Saanich Police announced that a serial Facebook Marketplace fraudster has been arrested and charged after a lengthy investigation.
Bruce William Woods is said to have scammed over $16,000 from 16 different victims from March to June of 2021, operating under the name C.B. Contracting and Labour.
Woods used this social media platform to advertise custom-built cedar wood sheds and planter boxes, and his victims would connect with him, contract his services and pay deposits.
The fraudster would allegedly never complete the work and consistently give excuses as to why he couldn’t. Woods would fail to return the deposits to his customers.
On November 2nd, 2022, Woods was arrested for fraud, and was convicted on September 23rd, 2024 of 16 counts of fraud under $5000.
As of October 4th of this year, he was sentenced to a six-month conditional sentence, two years probation, and he has been ordered to repay his victims.
Officers wish to remind the public that it’s important to do your research when hiring a contractor, and recommend checking with the Better Business Bureau to check legitimacy.
Additionally, avoid paying in advance for services, and whenever possible, use a credit card or PayPal for added security.
If you believe you’ve become a victim of fraud, report it to the police. It may help in discovering a series of frauds.
To report a fraud to Saanich Police, call (250) 475-4321.
