An elderly Orillia woman is warning others after she was defrauded of $100 by a man posing as a city bylaw officer — a scam that has left her shaken, disappointed, and determined to prevent others from falling into the same trap.
The victim, who asked to remain anonymous, said the fraud occurred at her home in Ward 3. She had just woken from a nap when her doorbell rang.
"I was groggy. I'm on heavy medications, and I had just gotten up when I answered the door," she recalled. "He said he was from the town and had received complaints about the weeds in my flowerbed. He told me I had to pay a $100 fine."
The man, described as a white male around 50 years old wearing a dark suit, appeared professional. He even carried what looked like an old-fashioned metal receipt holder. But he showed no formal identification, and his request for payment in cash raised no immediate red flags.
"He looked nice, and he was polite. I trusted him," she said. "I gave him two $50 bills. I didn't think to question it."
Only later — after discussing the situation with a friend who assists her with errands and personal care — did the woman begin to suspect something was off. The friend, who also wishes to remain anonymous to protect the woman's identity, said the story immediately struck her as suspicious.
"Her flower beds aren't even that bad," the friend said. "It just didn’t sit right. I encouraged her to call our city councillor, Jay Fallis, and report it."
Fallis confirmed to OrilliaMatters that he was contacted about the incident and said it raised serious ethical and safety concerns.
"It sounded like a complete violation of ethics," said Fallis. "Pretending to be a bylaw officer and demanding money is not only unethical — it’s illegal."
He said he intends to speak with city staff and explore whether a public advisory should be issued. Fallis also confirmed that Orillia bylaw officers do not solicit or accept payments at people’s homes.
"Our bylaw officers are always identifiable," he explained. "They wear blue button-up shirts with red lettering and the City of Orillia crest. They carry ID. And any actual fines are processed through proper channels, usually at City Hall."
The victim, upon contacting the city, learned there had been no complaint filed against her property.
"The woman at the bylaw office, I think, looked up my address and said there was no record of any complaint," she said. "That’s when it really hit me that I’d been taken."
The woman says she doesn’t expect to get her money back. But after consulting with her trustees and power of attorney, she made the decision to speak out to help protect others.
"I feel foolish, I know better," she said. "If sharing this helps another senior from going through the same thing, then it’s worth it."
To her surprise, a friend reached out and offered to give her $100 to make up for what she had lost.
"There are good people out there," she said. "But there are bad ones, too."
The woman, who has lived in the home for decades, said she’s used to complaints about her garden, which includes milkweed and goldenrod — native plants she intentionally grows to attract monarch butterflies.
"They’re technically weeds, but they’re beautiful," she said. "The monarchs love them, and their population is declining. I like to do my part."
But due to health issues this year, she had fallen behind on maintaining one section of the garden.
"The rest of it is perfect, because my gardener keeps it up," she said. "We just hadn’t gotten to that part yet."
Fallis said while this is the only case he’s heard of so far, he encourages any residents who experience similar suspicious behaviour to report it immediately.
"If someone comes to your door claiming to be with the city and asking for money, do not pay," Fallis stressed. "Ask for ID. Contact City Hall or call the OPP’s non-emergency line."
The Ontario Provincial Police can be reached at 1-888-310-1122. Residents are also encouraged to verify with the City of Orillia before responding to any door-to-door claims about property violations.
Fallis added that while there’s no formal policy in place for issuing citywide fraud warnings, it’s something council may need to consider.
"Fraud can pop up in strange and unpredictable ways," he said. "The key is making sure residents — especially seniors — have access to accurate information."
The victim hopes her story will remind others to remain cautious, even when someone seems trustworthy.
"He seemed so legitimate, but now I know," she said. "Real bylaw officers don’t show up in suits, they don’t drive black cars, they never, ever take cash at the door. It was only $100, but to someone like me, that’s groceries for a month."