A North Bay man is facing a fraud charge after police say a local resident lost $16,000 in an alleged construction scam.
The North Bay Police Service says the accused, 40-year-old William James Scriver, was arrested following an investigation into a contractor fraud complaint. He has been charged with fraud over $5,000.
According to a police release, the victim hired Scriver in May 2025 through what appeared to be a legitimate business. Over several weeks, the victim made payments totaling $16,000 for work that was never completed. Investigators say communication between the two parties later stopped.
In a statement, police urged residents to take precautions when hiring contractors, including checking references and consulting trusted friends or family members before making payments.
“Fraud can result in significant financial loss and cause serious emotional harm,” said Insp. McFarlane, encouraging the public to report suspicious activity.
Scriver has been released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
