Concerned citizens and industry professionals encouraged to anonymously report fraudulent activity
In response to the growing prevalence of fraud in mortgage and real estate, the Real Estate Council of B.C. has established a tip line that both consumers and industry professionals can use to report agents engaged in shady activity.
Concerned individuals can anonymously contact the Council at 1-833-420-2400.
The Council assured that it will open an investigation file on every complaint and follow up as needed.
“People deserve to know that they can trust the professionals they are working with when they are buying or selling real estate,” Finance Minister Carole James said, as quoted by CBC News.
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Vancouver-based real estate professional Jay McInnes said that the initiative is a much-needed step in the right direction.
“I think it’s positive, I think anything to bring transparency to our industry is 100% key and these days, needed,” McInnes stated. “In the last handful of years with the frustration people have felt in the market, with it climbing in price so rapidly, we’ve all seen a lot of legislation come into play to protect the consumer. I think it's going to be used a lot, it gives people another third party to speak to about their situation.”
The anonymous tip line was recommended by the Council's Independent Advisory Group to ensure beefed-up protection for the province’s real estate buyers and sellers.
