Seeking possible victims of fraud in relation to a renovation/construction scam

https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?page=5&newsId=61dae2d7-c63f-4910-9c86-5cd03fa2d549

Posted On Monday November 25, 2019

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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. 

Scam using the bank accounts of high school students

https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?page=3&newsId=c56b2e54-f203-4da7-85d9-1a238d60da82

Posted On Wednesday November 27, 2019

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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will normally determine that the deposit is a fraud and the card holder will be responsible for the money that was withdrawn.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. 

Ottawa woman charged with Fraud Over $5000 and Uttering a Forged Document

https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?page=2&newsId=650e25c0-5206-4e3c-b539-b14b946ea2cf

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. 

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Ottawa woman charged following investigation into historical employee fraud

https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=fc24e85d-d016-49bf-acbb-b1ffbeadafbd

Posted On Friday November 15, 2019

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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.

Fraudulent phone calls claiming to be from Service Canada

https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?page=3&newsId=cf2d52fe-f13d-4c38-9c4c-f39a377ed4dd

Posted On Tuesday November 05, 2019

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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 available with Service Canada. 

For more information on this and other frauds, please follow @FraudOttawa or visit our website.