FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 7:45am
(Ottawa)— Today, the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit (SACA) charged an Ottawa man practising massage in his Kanata residence with two counts of Sexual Assault. Police received a complaint from a woman earlier this month.
Luis AROCHE, 53 years old, of Ottawa is charged with two counts of Sexual Assault, False Pretense under $5000 and Uttering a Forged Document. He is scheduled to appear in court today.
SACA investigators are concerned that there could be other victims.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit Tip at 613-236-1222 ext. 5760 or to e-mailmcm@ottawapolice.ca
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers, toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or by downloading the Ottawa Police app.
Catherine Mensour of the Mensour Agency is warning that aspiring actors seeking their 'big break' shouldn't fall for an Instagram scam promising an audition next month for two Hollywood blockbusters.(Jean Delisle/CBC)
A local talent agency is warning aspiring actors that an offer to audition for a pair of upcoming blockbusters is a scam.
The Mensour Agency recently discovered a fake Instagram account claiming the Ottawa company was recruiting actors for two Hollywood movies — but that big break would come with a price.
Catherine Mensour said she was settling in to watch the Oscars on Feb. 9 when another agency contacted her about the announcement, which appeared to have been posted by Xavier Sotelo, an actor she represents.
The announcement said the agency "has been tasked with bringing in fresh actors for new roles in the upcoming SpiderMan 3 and Tomb Raider 2," with auditions slated for next month.
Mensour knew the post was a lie because her agency doesn't cast movies. She soon learned from Sotelo that someone had copied his Instagram account and was impersonating him online.
The audition offer was the first step in a scam designed to draw personal and financial information — along with cold hard cash — from actors with stars in their eyes.
Some took the bait and responded to the fake account's pitch, receiving public replies first asking them to fill out detailed background forms and then shell out $500 US for the fictional audition.
Ottawa actor Xavier Sotelo says someone copied his Instagram account to circulate the fake audition notice. 'You read about scams that happen all the time,' he said, 'but you never think it's going to be you.'(Jean Delisle/CBC)
Mensour said a legitimate agency will never ask for money from any actor.
"It's terrifying, because people want to be in the business, " said Mensour. "People want to get a big break, and [they'll] think this is it."
Sotelo said at first he was stunned someone had used his identity to set up a scam.
But then he got mad.
"I was angry that this was happening, and especially with the younger talent," said Sotelo. "It's taking advantage of of people's dreams."
Xavier Sotelo has posted warnings about the scam on social media.(CBC)
Sotelo said he's contacted Instagram about the fake account and has posted warnings on social media.
Mensour said she's filed a complaint with Ottawa police and alerted TAMAC, the association overseeing Canadian talent agencies.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, February 20, 2020 2:30pm
(Ottawa) –The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit has charged two men and a woman in relation to a fraud that is alleged to have occurred in 2014 and 2015.
Ottawa Police received a complaint that a person had been defrauded of $535,000. The fraud was part of a plan to entice a friend living overseas to a better life in Canada. The individuals requested funds to aid an immigration process and to purchase a house.
As a result of the investigation, on February 14th, Ottawa Police charged (David) Kwok Fai KWAN, 42 years-old, (Alice) Pui-Yan KWAN, 39 years-old, (Raymond) Kwok Wing KWAN, 44 years-old, all of Ottawa, with:
Published Friday, February 21, 2020 4:32PM ESTLast Updated Friday, February 21, 2020 4:35PM EST
OTTAWA -- A 34-year-old mother is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from Richmond Public School where she volunteered.
The charges are related to alleged incidents that occurred while the woman was the volunteer treasurer for the school council between 2016 and 2019. Richmond Public School is on McBean Street in Richmond.
Earlier this month, Ottawa Police charged the woman with fraud over $5,000, use of a forged document and obtain food fraudulently.
Police are refusing to release the name of the woman facing charges.
Const. Amy Gagnon tells CTV News Ottawa that these kinds of investigations stem from complaints.
“When it comes to financial fraud, either somebody notices something abnormal, or there’s just something that feels off. So somebody places a complaint, and our investigation begins.”
In a statement, the Ottawa Carleton District School Board says it has “been advised by the Ottawa Police Service that a volunteer with Richmond Public School Council was charged criminally with fraud and other charges. Since the start of the investigation, the OCDSB has been and will continue to cooperate fully with the Ottawa Police Service.”
The board said it would not discuss further details about the allegations since the matter is now before the courts.
The woman is no longer on the School Council executive.
David Neil of the Piggy Market in Westboro displays a fake $20 bill, left, which came to his store on the weekend. The bill on the right is a real one.(David Neil/Facebook)
The owner of a Westboro deli wants businesses and shoppers to keep an eye out for counterfeit money.
David Neil, of the Piggy Market on Winston Avenue, says someone used a fake $20 bill over the weekend, when the store was busy.
"There's actually quite a few tells on it if you're not in a rush," said Neil.
One key difference is the feel isn't quite right, he said.
"The size is different [and] it's got a slightly greener tint to it. Queen Elizabeth's head has a different look to it [and] the maple leaf is not centred in the hologram."
Neil reported the counterfeit bill to Ottawa police on Thursday.
Counterfeiters often try to circulate their imitations when businesses are busy and distracted, according to the Ottawa Police fraud unit.
So it's important to take some extra time to feel the bill and look at the security features, such as the raised ink and the holograms, police said.
A comparison between a genuine and fake $20 bill under a microscope. The genuine $20 on the left has crisper features. The counterfeit bill on the right is pixelated and blurry.(CBC)
While Neil is only out $20 he knows there are more phony bills in circulation because his local bank branch showed him one they received this week.
Counterfeit money use down
As for counterfeiting overall, the Bank of Canada says it has trended down significantly since the introduction of polymer notes a decade ago.
According to Nish Vairavanathan, an analyst with the Bank of Canada's currency section, counterfeiters aren't producing great fake money. Recognizing a couple of distinct features on the polymer bills should be enough to tell the two apart
The biggest year for fakes was 2004 when $13.5 million in phony money was reported. In 2018, the most recent year where figures are available, there was $1.9 million in fake cash passed around, said Vairavanathan.
The most popular fakes are $100 and $20 bills, he said.
The Bank of Canada has these tips for retailers dealing with suspicious cash during a transaction:
Politely refuse the note and explain that you suspect that it may be counterfeit.
Ask for another note (and check it too).
Advise the person to check the note with local police.
Be courteous. Remember that the person in possession of the bill could be an innocent victim.
Inform local police of a possible attempt to pass suspected counterfeit money.
In addition to Canadian currency being counterfeited, the Ottawa police fraud unit says fake U.S. bills have also been circulating in the area.
Investigators have charged an Ontario-based married couple they say acted as “money mules” in a mostly India-based phone and internet scam.
RCMP say the arrests may make a dent in the prevalence of the widespread scam, in which fraudsters impersonate Canada Revenue Agency employees.
The scheme sees callers posing as agents from the CRA demand money that they claim is owed in taxes, threatening the victims with imprisonment if they don’t pay up.
Insp. Jim Ogden alleges the couple would receive boxes of cash from Canadians and forward the money to the scam’s base in India.
Ogden didn’t say how much money they’re accused to have laundered, but noted $27,000 cash and more than $100,000 in jewelry was allegedly seized from their Brampton, Ont., home.
Each is charged with fraud over $5,000, laundering the proceeds of crime and property obtained by crime.
Ontario Provincial Police are warning of a "head office" scam that has victimized at least two Ottawa Valley businesses in recent weeks.
According to OPP, a scammer claiming to be from corporate head office calls a regional office and requests payment for a shipment of goods.
In one case, OPP said the scammer threatened the business with financial penalties if it didn't pay up; in the other, the business was told its stock wouldn't arrive in time.
They're doing it because they think their manager would want them to do that.- OPP Const. Shawn Peever
Typically, the callers embellish their story by insisting they know either the owner of the business or a high-level manager there.
"In reality, there is no incoming shipment coming that needs to be paid for whatsoever," OPP Const. Shawn Peever explained. "It's simply a scam."
Peever said in cases under investigation in both Petawawa and Pembroke, Ont., well-meaning employees dipped into their own savings to avoid those penalties, leaving them each on the hook for close to $5,000.
"They're doing it because they think their manager would want them to do that," Peever said.
Police wouldn't name the businesses that fell prey to the scam.
Tips for businesses
The OPP is urging businesses to establish strict protocols for paying suppliers. In 2018, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre issued these tips:
Beware of unsolicited phone calls from individuals presenting an urgent situation requiring immediate attention.
Educate employees at every level to be wary of unsolicited calls. Post notices and discuss during staff meetings.
Give authority to approve purchases and pay bills to only a limited number of staff .
Ensure policies are in place to verify any request for funds thoroughly prior to making payment.
Franchisees are most vulnerable to the "head office" scam, said Jeff Thomson, a senior RCMP intelligence analyst at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
In another version of the scam, Thompson said a fraudster purporting to be from head office calls a retailer that sells iTunes gift cards and convinces an employee to scratch and read off activation codes so the cards can be "verified."
"This speaks to the variations in all the frauds we see," Thomson said.
Ottawa police said they've been investigating a similar scam perpetrated in the past two weeks.
In it, a man claiming to be calling from head office convinced an employee to make up for an alleged shortfall in the business's daily cash deposits by purchasing gift cards.
