OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, December 19, 2019 9:48am
(Ottawa) —The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit arrested and charged a male following a complaint of fraud allegations.
In June 2019, an investigation began following complaints that an Ottawa-based Day Care, which is a non-profit charitable organization, had been defrauded of over $200,000.
The suspect, a former employee, in their role as the Financial Coordinator with the day care, had access to the company payroll, company cheques, and the company credit card. The suspect made unauthorized payments and transactions for personal gain between 2010-2016.
The Day Care was cooperative and assisted with the police investigation.
On December 5th, the Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit has charged Vasilios (Bill) POLYMENAKOS, 50 years old, of Gatineau with Fraud exceeding $5000
POLYMENAKOS is scheduled to appear in court on January 9th, 2020.
As shoppers gear up for the holiday season, police say fraudsters are also preparing to take advantage of those who aren't careful.
The holidays are ripe for fraudulent activity, with various types of scams appearing around this time of year, according to Jeff Thomson, a senior intelligence analyst with the RCMP's fraud unit.
Here are some of the most common scams Thomson said people should watch out for.
SIM swapping
Thomson said the RCMP has seen a recent spike in identity theft through what's known as SIM swapping.
Fraudsters will send a phishing email, which appears to be from your service provider, offering you free data or something similar — and a link for you to claim your "prize."
The link asks for personal information to update your cellular account profile. Fraudsters will then contact your service provider and, using that information, gain access to your phone.
"If you have your bank accounts, your social media accounts, email accounts — they can now start to gain access to the accounts you have on your mobile device," Thomson said.
If you receive an email from your service provider with an offer, Thomson recommends calling them to verify it's real.
Thomson said the RCMP are seeing a spike in these kinds of scams, but instead of the CRA, the fraudsters claim to be from Service Canada.
"The Service Canada scam I'm seeing as the evolution of the CRA scam," Thomson said.
Fraudsters tell victims their social insurance number (SIN) is compromised and then attempt a two-part scam.
First, they'll attempt to coax your name, date of birth, SIN and other personal information from you.
Then they'll say police or investigators need to follow up, which later turns into a demand for cash. Thomson said that usually takes the form of fraudsters telling victims to move money into a "safe account."
Like with the CRA scam, Thomson said Canadian agencies wouldn't call and ask for personal information.
Online shopping scams
As more and more shoppers turn to the internet to find that perfect holiday gift, fraudsters are taking notice.
Thomson said one scam comes in the form of an unbelievable offer for a wish-list item — but often it's counterfeit or of an inferior quality.
To avoid being duped, Thomson recommends only shopping at well-known websites, reading reviews on lesser-known ones first, and using payment programs that have credit card protection.
"If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is," he said.
Loan scams
This scam typically preys on victims looking for extra cash during the holidays.
Fraudsters offer loans, Thomson said, and then either take personal information or begin to demand payments.
Thomson advises people to be cautious and only seek loans from credible providers.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, December 5, 2019 1:30pm
(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Fraud Unit is advising the community of recent scams involving “SIM card swapping.” This is a scam that is affecting consumers all over North America.
What is it?
A fraudster, armed with personal information about a targeted victim, will call the victim’s cell phone provider. They will have enough information about the victim to convince the cell phone provider that they are the targeted victim. They will then ask to cancel the victim’s cell phone account and have the number transferred to another cell phone provider (this is a process called porting).
They will then set up an account with the new service provider and be able to use the victim’s cell phone number with that new provider. As many online apps and accounts use a text message to re-set passwords, the fraudster will then attempt to re-set the victim’s password on their email, bank accounts, store accounts, rewards accounts and social media accounts. They will then proceed to access whatever funds and goods are available. This will generally happen very quickly.
How to protect yourself:
Speak to your cell phone service provider about extra security measures you can put on your cell phone account
Don’t respond to “phishing” emails that ask you personal information or ask for passwords to your accounts
Avoid posting personal information on line such as your SIN, date of birth, address, family tree information, pet’s name, etc.
Don’t use the same password for every online account you have
If you lose cell phone service, call your service provider and your bank immediately
The Canadian Bankers Association has an excellent article aboutSIM swapping.
For more information on this and other frauds, please follow @FraudOttawa on twitter or visit ourwebsite for more tips.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 25, 2019 11:05am
(Ottawa) – The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit has charged an individual after a renovation / construction scam was reported to them.
Between November 2018 and June 2019 Linfra Developments Inc. fraudulently obtained funds in relation to renovation projects at various locations across the City of Ottawa. Funds were supposed to be used to pay for sub-contractors and materials at the project sites. However, this was not the case, as they were redirected for personal use. Over $250,000 was obtained.
Frank BARAKI, 34 years old, of Ottawa has been charged with 8 counts of Fraud exceeding $5000 and 1 count of obtain by false pretence exceeding $5000. BARAKI is scheduled to appear in court today, November 25, 2019.
The Ottawa Police is looking for assistance with possibly identifying additional victims of fraud in relation to Linfra Developments Inc. for the time frame of November 2018 to June 2019. If you have information that could assist the Ottawa Police Organized Fraud Unit please call 613-236-1222 ext. 7300 to make a report.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or crimestoppers.ca.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, November 27, 2019 11:00am
(Ottawa) – The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit is warning the community about a recent fraud trend targeting young people.
The suspects approach young people and convince them to loan out their bank card and PIN. They are offered financial compensation in return for the loaning of their card. The suspects will then deposit the proceeds from another fraud into the young person’s bank account and immediately withdraw the money.
Banks will normally determine that the deposit is a fraud and the card holder will be responsible for the money that was withdrawn.
Card holders are recruited through acquaintances or through social media sites. The target audience for this scam is high school students with bank accounts. Peer pressure is used to recruit them as well as the promise of easy money.
Parents are encouraged to discuss this scam with their children and emphasize the fact that:
You are responsible for everything that goes on in your bank account;
Do not give out your bank card or PIN to anybody;
There is no way to get “free” money.
If you believe you or your child is currently in the middle of a similar scam, contact your bank and have your account frozen immediately.
For more information on this and other frauds, please follow @FraudOttawa.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, November 21, 2019 10:00am
(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit has charged an Ottawa woman with Fraud Over $5000 (x1) and Uttering a Forged Document (x1).
The woman defrauded her employer while working in the financial offices within the hospitality industry. She did not drop off cashier deposits, took commission cheques, did not report them and uttered a forged cheque.
The events are believed to have occurred over a 4-year period, starting in 2013. The amount defrauded is estimated at about $250,000.
Nicole HUMBY, 39 years old, was arrested on October 28, 2019 and was released with a Promise to Appear in court on November 26, 2019.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 15, 2019 1:46pm
(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit has charged Chantal COUTURE, 45 years old of Ottawa following an investigation into a complaint of a historical employee-related fraud.
It was alleged that while working in the financial section of a local convenience store, she cashed over 50 cheques made in her name and the cheques had a forged signature. The events are believed to have occurred over a period of two years, and began in 2017. The alleged fraud was evaluated at about $30,000.
COUTURE was arrested on October 23, 2019 and charged with one count of Fraud over and one count of Uttering forged document.
She was released on a Promise to Appear on November 18, 2019.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, November 5, 2019 900am
(Ottawa) – The Ottawa Police Organized Fraud Unit is warning the community about a recent phone scam that is being reported in Ottawa and across the country.
The fraudulent phone calls are coming to both cell phone and land lines and may display the phone number of a legitimate government agency. The recorded message when the phone is answered claims that it is ‘Service Canada’ calling and that there has been a crime committed with ‘your social insurance number (SIN) and to press “1” to avoid prosecution’.
Police are urging Ottawa residents not to press 1 and to simply hang up. People who have continued with the call have been directed to purchase gift cards or bitcoins in order to avoid prosecution. Financial losses have ranged from $3000 to $15,000.
With regards to this and similar type of calls, police advises that:
No government agency will demand or accept payment in Bitcoin or gift cards;
Never give out personal or banking information over the telephone unless you are absolutely sure of who you are giving it to (do not release your PIN to anyone);
Do not rely on your phone’s call display option to validate who you are actually speaking with, as fraudsters can spoof phone numbers.
With regards to this specific false “Service Canada” calls, police would also like to advise that these are robocalls and that the caller does not know any information about you. They will only know your SIN if you provide it to them. More information is availablewith Service Canada.
For more information on this and other frauds, please follow @FraudOttawa or visit ourwebsite.
City treasurer sent more than $100K after receiving emails from scammer
CBC News·
Elvin Lewis Jr. told CBC in April he, too, was an unwitting victim of a scam targeting the City of Ottawa.(Submitted)
A Florida man accused of defrauding the City of Ottawa out of more than $100,000 has been found guilty by a U.S. judge.
Elvin Lewis Jr. was convicted late last week on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering, following a five-day trial.
Lewis had been charged in relation to a July 2018 scam targeting city treasurer Marian Simulik. Acting on an email from someone posing as city manager Steve Kanellakos, Simulik wired $97,797.20 US — currently worth about $130,000 Cdn — to a U.S. bank account.
Lewis and his co-conspirators also sent fake emails and invoices to a power company in Ohio and a trucking company in Tennessee, directing them to make payments to various bank accounts through wire transfers, according to Florida prosecutors.
The scam laundered approximately $3 million US in less than one year, according to the investigation involving the FBI and U.S. Secret Service in Florida.
Lewis kept $160,000 USD in cash for himself, and acquired a Porsche, which law enforcement officials later seized.
Claimed he was a 'money mule'
In April, Lewis told CBC the accusations against him were "mind-blowing," claiming he was innocent and had been unwittingly used by the scammers.
"I wasn't involved in ripping off the City of Ottawa. That's, like, ridiculous," Lewis said. "I'm a victim in this, and they call what I did a 'money mule.'"
The scam perpetrated on the city treasurer is known as "whaling" because it targets big fish such as CEOs and chief financial officers of major corporations, including municipalities.
In July 2018, Simulik received a fake email asking her to pay a city IT supplier, which she assumed had something to do with an overhaul of the ottawa.ca website. After a few emails back and forth, she authorized and sent the requested amount to a U.S. bank account.
Lewis is expected to be sentenced on Jan. 10, and could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each of the 11 counts he was convicted on.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, October 3, 2019 2:45pm
(Ottawa)—The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit would like to warn the community of two ongoing rental scams that have made several victims in the month of September.
The first one is an Apartment Rental Scam where future tenants view photos of a place they would like to rent via online platforms. They make contact with the fraudster who tries to gain the victim’s trust while using pressure tactics about other interested tenants and a monthly rent below market value, which adds pressure to sign promptly.
Both enter into a lease negotiation and the fraudster will either require a deposit (half a month to two month rent) by e-transfer. The victim then attends the location on a set date and time and finds out that the unit is currently rented. Victims of this scam include international students, out-of-town citizens and Ottawa residents.
The second scam is known as the Rental Parking Scam where fraudsters will respond to a person’s online advertisement looking for parking or offer a parking spot via online platforms. The price and leasing agreements are negotiated and a deposit is requested via e-transfer to the suspect.
In some cases, victims only found out about the Parking scam when they started using the parking spot and received a warning from the true parking space owner. This scam has mainly occurred in the central part of Ottawa.
Ottawa Police is concerned that there are other victims who may have also lost hundreds if not thousands of dollars with these scams. If you have been a victim, please report theincident online.
The Organized Fraud Unit would like to remind consumers to be vigilant when purchasing items/services from unknown persons online. More tips areavailable online.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call Ottawa Police's Organized Fraud Unit at 613-236-1222, ext.5433. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by downloading the Ottawa Police app.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, September 25, 2019 3:15pm
(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Fraud Unit is advising the community of recent scams involving phone numbers similar to the Ottawa Police Service, including 9-1-1 and our main phone number, 613-236-1222.
In one case, a fraudster claimed to be a police officer withService Canadaand told the victim that their Social Insurance Number (SIN) had been used in a scam. Money was requested from the victim to assist with an investigation.
In a second case, the fraudster called a victim and said he was from theCanada Revenue Agency. During one of the calls, “9-1-1” actually appeared on the phone screen display. The fraudster claimed an outstanding tax balance that should be paid with Google Play Cards.
It should be noted that the actual Ottawa Police phone number (613-236-1222) will not show up on your call display when you are receiving a legitimate call from the Ottawa Police.
Anyone who receives unsolicited calls or e-mails from someone requesting money or personal information should first verify directly with the agency in question, before responding.
For more information on this and other frauds, please follow @FraudOttawa or visit ourwebsite for more tips.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, September 19, 2019 10:07am
(Ottawa)— On September 12th, 2019 the Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit arrested and charged a tow truck owner/operator following a complaint of fraud allegations.
Ibrahim MASRI, 33 years old, of Ottawa was charged with:
False Pretence Over $5000 (2 counts)
Theft of a motor vehicle
Mischief Over $5000
A police investigation was commenced by the Ottawa Police Organized Fraud Unit in August 2019 in response to two separate complaints that an Ottawa based tow truck company had conducted business under the false pretence that they were CAA.
Allegations: In both cases, the complainants later found out that CAA had no records of these calls and that they had likely been in touch with a different towing company. In one case, the investigation revealed that the caller’s vehicle was taken without their consent and brought to an unknown location where impound fees eventually exceeded $5 000.
On September 17th, 2019 the Ottawa Police Service Fraud Unit executed a search warrant at the tow truck compound in the Leitrim/Albion Roads area.
CAA was cooperative and assisted the police investigation. CAA had no involvement with this current fraud.
The Ottawa Police Service asks anyone having experienced a similar incident to report it to the Ottawa Police at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300.
MASRI is scheduled to appear in court on October 9, 2019.
