Our United Way recently spotted a local scam involving firewood sales. We’re grateful we can pass the warning along — and help YOU stay safe!

The scam was discovered through a social media post where someone was advertising firewood for sale. The seller requested a deposit and promised a delivery date, but the post soon vanished. Recognizing the red flags, our team discussed ways to help clients avoid falling victim to similar scams.

Thank you to Karen, our Utility Assistance Co-ordinator, for these suggestions!

• If you know someone you trust who has a wood stove, ask about their wood provider. Have they had a good experience with their wood provider? Has the wood been of good quality? Did they ask for a deposit? Have they always come through after the deposit was made? Using a wood provider that a trusted friend or neighbour can vouch for lowers the risk of you being scammed. 
• If you don’t know someone with a wood stove, you can use the internet to find one. Do your research before deciding on one. Do an internet search for “firewood for sale”. Most firewood businesses have a website showing their wood. If it is an individual, ask for their full name, address, and phone number. Do a search on an internet map of the address. If the address doesn’t exist, it is probably a scam. If it does come up, you can use “street view” to see if you can see stacked firewood or if it has space to store firewood. 
• Ask about the wood: Where is it from? What kind of wood is it? Has it been seasoned? Some wood is not fireplace-burnable.
• Most important – DO NOT E-TRANSFER MONEY UNTIL THE PERSON IS IN YOUR DRIVEWAY WITH THE LOAD OF WOOD. If the provider asks for a down payment, this is A BIG RED FLAG. Karen suggests to most clients to pay in provider in cash once the wood is in their driveway. 

If you are struggling with the cost of heating with wood, oil, or propane and live on a modest or low income, consider applying for the United Way of Bruce Grey’s heating program. Call 2-1-1 to register first. Karen will then reach out to you within a few days to complete the registration. If approved for this program, it will cover up to $700 every 12 months (July-June) for heating fuel. 

As the chill of Fall starts to nip at your toes and nose, plan ahead for how you will stay warm in the lows.