The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) recently issued a warning against a real estate salesperson accused of fraud and other charges and whose real estate registration has been terminated.

RECO issued a warning against doing business with Christopher Parik of York Region. Parik’s registration under the Real Estate Business and Brokers Act was pulled in January, and he is no longer allowed to trade in real estate according to RECO.

Parik ran an independent rent to own program and website, www.chrisparik.com, to reach buyers with no funds or who were able to qualify for the purchase of a home. He used the catch “rent to own with zero down” to lure buyers RECO said.

RECO began to investigate Parik in late 2016 after receiving several complaints regarding his fraudulent conduct. Six complaints pertained to an “initial fee” Parik was charging customers in which he collected $595. After receiving the fee, Parik did not provide any additional services and would not issue refunds to his customers according to RECO.

By March, RECO had eight charges against Parik for taking the “commission” from customers and for trading in a real estate brokerage to which he was not employed.

Anyone involved in a real estate transaction with Parik should contact RECO at 416-207-4800.