Two Quebec real estate brokers had their licenses suspended for two months after being accused of encouraging friends and family members to submit phony bogus offers as part of a scheme to drive up home prices.
CTV News reported the regulator for the province’s real estate industry, the Organisme d’autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec (OACIQ), said it revoked the licenses of Christine Girouard and her husband, Jonathan Dauphinais-Fortin, for setting up “a fraudulent scheme to encourage buyers to enhance their initial promise to purchase, notably by submitting a bogus promise to purchase to sellers.”
The OACIQ added the temporary suspension was an “exceptional measure” because public safety would be at risk if the brokers were still able to work in real estate. The brokers could face fines and the permanent suspension of their licenses; discipline hearings are scheduled to begin Sept. 25.
“The protection of the public and the seriousness of the alleged offences dictated urgent action, and we are pleased that the Discipline Committee has sided with the Syndic’s arguments,” said Caroline Champagne, the OACIQ’s vice-president of enforcement of practices, Thursday.
Girouard and Dauphinais-Fortin were affiliated with RE/MAX Canada, which dropped the brokers when press reports of their scheme was published. Girouard is familiar to the Canadian public through her appearance on the reality television series “Numero 1.”
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Please follow up after the 25th.
That’s a New One … Drive Prices with Bogus Offers.
Numero 1 They are Not.
Their licenses should be revoked, not suspended. Fraudulent and Deceptive. Our industry has enough to deal with to have to deal with these two. We already have two black eyes. C’mon folks!
Agreed
Randy is correct. Licenses should be revoked and not suspended! How pitiful that America alone has over one to two million agents and like the other moronic lawsuit vs NAR and over one million agents who did nothing wrong or illegal but have to suffer the consequences of a few idiots who should be mowing lawns or bagging groceries at the local market! Same thing here. Two complete idiots spoil the reputation of probably another million great agents. Throw the book at the idiots!
I wonder how this benefited them?
The higher the sale price, the higher commissions are…