Builders in Vancouver’s Punjabi Community, who requested anonymity, spoke to Omni News earlier this week about their fears surrounding extortion.
Vancouver builders are pulling down job-site signs and scrubbing their online and public presence as a wave of extortion threats, once centred in Surrey, now spreads across the city’s Punjabi business community.
Several Vancouver-based builders say they are now going dark and staying under the radar as similar fears emerge in the city.
“Most people think this is a Surrey problem, but it’s spreading,” one builder told OMNI News under the condition of anonymity.
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“We are living in fear. People are removing signs, just so they aren’t targeted next.”
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) confirmed there are currently four active extortion investigations in the city, though they say the actual number of victims is likely higher.
The climate of fear is doing more than causing anxiety; it is beginning to stall construction projects in a city already gripped by a historic housing shortage.
Some builders are now pointing the finger at Vancouver City Hall, arguing policies designed for transparency have inadvertently created a directory for criminals. Developers say too much development and permit information is publicly accessible online, making it easier for extortionists to identify potential targets.
With a few clicks, anyone can find the name, phone number, and project value of a developer. In an era of multi-million-dollar threats, builders say that transparency has become a liability.
Builders who spoke with OMNI News earlier this week requested anonymity due to safety concerns.
“Most people think the extortion crisis is confined to south of the Fraser,” one builder said.
“Punjabi builders in Vancouver have been getting extortion calls, and there’s a real fear in the community that they could be targeted — so they’re staying on alert,” another said.
Some builders say the fear has already begun affecting business decisions.
“They’re worried that if they attract too much attention, they could become targets,” one of the builders said, adding that some projects have been delayed or cancelled as a precaution.
Others say those fears have been heightened after recent violent incidents, which include multiple shootings earlier this year and last year in Surrey that police linked to extortion.
“There was a situation in Surrey where people were arming themselves, and we obviously don’t want that; it’s a public safety issue,” another builder said.
“Our hands are tied at this point. A lot of builders are slowing down projects out of caution, even during a housing crisis. Builders are scared for their lives as well.”
Some developers also argue that city transparency policies may be unintentionally putting them at risk. Because many of the projects are worth millions of dollars, builders say there should be temporary limits on public access to certain information, including contact details and project information that can currently be accessed with just a few clicks.
They say they have tried to raise these concerns with the City of Vancouver but feel their concerns have not been taken seriously.
“They all need to come together and tackle this head-on,” one builder said. “If this continues to spread, it could cause a massive housing shortage in a region that already desperately needs more homes.”
The builders also raised concerns about communication with city inspectors.
One said inspectors sometimes call from private, blocked numbers. Given the extortion threats, he said many builders no longer answer those calls.
“When I told a city inspector we were living in fear and not answering blocked numbers because they could be extortionists, I was told, ‘That’s not our problem — it’s yours,’” he said.
As a result, some inspections have been delayed as builders avoid answering calls with no caller ID.
The City of Vancouver told OMNI they are reviewing their communication practices but currently have no formal policy requiring caller ID for staff phones.
In a statement, the city said inspectors are issued city mobile phones when contacting residents and businesses regarding permit and project matters.
“Calls from these phone numbers should typically display a phone number that is identifiable on the receiver’s call display,” the statement said.
However, the City noted that it does not have a formal policy requiring caller ID to appear in all cases.
“There may be limited situations where caller ID is not transmitted, such as when calls are routed through certain systems or when staff seek to prevent their direct line from being widely published,” the statement read.
The City says it takes the concerns seriously and is reviewing the issue to better understand the circumstances and ensure communication practices support the safety of everyone involved.
Still, some builders say the response has fallen short of what they were hoping for.
“They ask for our support when the City needs builders,” one developer said. “But when builders say they’re scared and need help, we’re told there’s nothing the City can do.”
In a statement to OMNI, VPD Const. Darren Wong said there are currently four active ongoing extortion investigations linked to the city.
“While I cannot comment on specifics as these investigations are in different stages, I can confirm that we have executed search warrants and arrests and are continuing to collect evidence in order to pursue charges,” Wong said.
He added that the number of cases may be higher than the four currently under active investigation.
Police are urging anyone who is a victim of extortion, or who knows someone who may be a victim, to report it immediately and not attempt to handle the situation alone.