Fraud Unit warning residents to be vigilant with card skimming fraud involving a taxi

 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=6530a52d-f27f-4642-a247-a0a888ab2f15

Posted On Friday September 24, 2021

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, September 24, 2021   3:35pm

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit is advising the public to be extra vigilant when being asked to pay for a service with a credit or bank card in exchange of money.

Since September 21st, 2021, the Ottawa Police Service has received several complaints concerning people being defrauded after affording assistance in paying with their personal credit or bank card for a taxi fare.

In all incidents, a suspect approaches the victim in a shopping or strip mall parking lot asking them to pay for their cab fare explaining that the driver does not accept cash because of COVID regulations, and only takes credit or debit.

If the victim accepts, he is then brought to the nearby taxicab to complete the transaction using their own credit/debit card.  The suspect then pays the victim with cash for the transaction.

In completing the transaction, the driver switches the victim’s credit/debit card for a false one and the Personal Identification number (PIN) is obtained surreptitiously. The victim’s card is then used to complete fraudulent transactions.  In all reported incidents, a fake BlueLine taxi vehicle was utilized.

The Organized Fraud Unit investigation has confirmed that a BlueLine sign (marquee) and licence plate are being used fraudulently.

The Fraud Unit provides these safety tips: 

• Don’t accept to pay with your debit or credit card for someone else’s transaction even if you are offered monetary compensation, equivalent or superior to the original transaction amount.
• When making purchases, protect your PIN.
• Do not share your PIN with anyone.
• Choose a PIN that is not easy to guess – avoid birthdays and phone numbers, etc.
• Keep a close watch on your incoming bank and credit card statements.
• For more tips, click here.

Reports of Fraud can be made by calling the Ottawa Police Service at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300 or online. 

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CONTACT:

Media Relations Section

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366

@OttawaPolice

Fraud Unit warning residents to be vigilant with suspicious phone calls

 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?page=2&newsId=07cbcf8a-80fb-4706-9265-707510db8ea6

Posted On Wednesday September 08, 2021

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, September 8, 2021   11:15am 

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit is advising the public to be extra vigilant when receiving phone calls from persons identifying themselves as an employee of any Canadian Government Agency. 

The caller, or sometimes a recording, tells the person that they owe money in taxes, that they are involved in money laundering, drug trafficking and that there is an arrest warrant issued in their name. Further, that if they do not pay up, an officer will come and arrest them. 

Government Agencies will NOT ask for money over the phone, for credit card numbers or for prepaid cards as payment. They will not threaten to send an officer to your door to arrest you either. 

Demands of payment are often asked to be made by way of deposits into a Bitcoin machine.  Bitcoin is a worldwide virtual currency and digital payment system. It is unregulated, untraceable, and therefore impossible to recover money lost. 

Scams often originate outside of Canada despite a call display seeming local. Organized fraud scammers are skilled at covering their tracks and can disguise their contact numbers and computer Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. “For these reasons it is nearly impossible for police to resolve these complaints” said Sergeant Arsenault of the Organized Fraud Unit, “prevention is key”.   

Sergeant Arsenault suggests these safety tips: 

• Don’t give personal or financial information out over the phone or via the computer to unknown sources;
• Ask the caller for their name, phone number and the company they work for so you can verify their identity;
• Speak to a trusted friend or family member to get a second opinion;
• Familiarize yourself with common scams and how they work;
• For more tips, Click here.

Reports of Fraud can be made by calling the Ottawa Police Service at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300 or online. 

Woman charged after falsely working as a nurse – police seeking other victims

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, September 1, 2021   9:00am 

Charged person Brigitte CLÉROUX

(Ottawa) — The East Criminal Investigation Section has charged a woman following an investigation into Personation, Criminal negligence and fraud-related incidents after falsely gaining employment and conducting duties as a nurse at a medical and dental clinic in Ottawa. Some of those duties included the administration of medications, including injections, to patients. 

On August 23rd, Brigitte CLEROUX, 49 years old, of Gatineau, was arrested. She has been charged with several offences, including: 

• Obtaining by False Pretence
• Uttering Forged Document
• Assault with a weapon
• Criminal Negligence Causing Bodily Harm
• Personation to gain advantage 

She first appeared in court on August 24th and was remanded into custody.  

An investigation began when police were told that a woman had used aliases and assumed the identities of registered nurses that she fraudulently obtained.

Investigators believe there may be other clinics and victims in this criminal matter. The investigation continues. 

The Service is taking the extra step of releasing a picture of CLEROUX, as she used several aliases. 

The Ottawa Police Service wishes to thank the Vancouver Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.

Anyone with information about this matter is asked to call the Ottawa Police Service East Criminal Investigation Section Tip Line at 613-236-1222, extension 5625. Public tips can also be sent by e-mail to mcm@ottawapolice.ca . 

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.

Contractor charged in East end Frauds

 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?page=2&newsId=aea33660-fd0e-4058-be0f-82c6c3b4c9ae

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, August 19, 2021      1:00pm

(Ottawa)— The Ottawa Police Service East Criminal Investigations Unit has charged a man in connection with fraud allegations made from members of the public this summer.

In July and August 2021, a man identifying himself as an independent contractor accepted down payments for jobs that he had no intention of completing.

The man advertised his work under several business names: Cory HT&T, Epic Wood Finishing, Cedar Renovations, and Platinum Cabinets.

Cory CAHILL, 42 years old, of Ottawa, has been charged with:

• Fraud exceeding $5000
• Uttering threats

CAHILL was released on an Undertaking and scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Investigators believe that there are other victims.

Please check out best tips before doing home renovations.

Anyone with information about this incident or may have been a victim of fraud by CAHILL is asked to contact Detective Biondi with the East Criminal Investigations Unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5349.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca

“Project Mauve” leads to prescription fraud charges

 Posted On Thursday July 22, 2021

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 22, 2021   9:10am      

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service East Investigations Unit has charged an individual with several prescription frauds following a lengthy and ongoing investigation.

Between May 2020 and January 2021, several reports were made to the Service by different local pharmacies regarding suspicious prescriptions.

Investigators believed that they were fraudulent and have identified one of the individuals involved.

On July 15th, Kristopher KHALIL, 23 years old, of Ottawa, was charged with:    

• Fraud not exceeding $5000 x 7
• Uttering a forged document x 7
• Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence x 1
• Unlawful possession of a Schedule I Substance x 1
• Personation to gain advantage x 2     

KHALIL was released on an Undertaking, with a court appearance scheduled at a later date.

“Project Mauve” was created as a result of an increase in prescription fraud incidents in the city. Investigators have been working diligently to identify the individuals responsible and lay appropriate charges, as “Project Mauve” remains active. 

Anyone with information about these incidents or any prescription fraud incidents is asked to contact Detective Dallaire with the East Investigations Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 3416.

 Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.

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CONTACT:

Media Relations Section

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366

Suspect to identify in online fraud and theft offences

 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=e129bba2-cce8-494a-b2d0-29853bca3260

Posted On Tuesday July 06, 2021

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, July 6, 2021   9:08am

(Ottawa) — The South Neighbourhood Resource Team (NRT) is looking for the public’s assistance to identify an individual involved in a theft and possible fraud that have occurred in the City’s East end.

A person was able to hack into the complainant’s cell phone online account and subsequently order a cell phone under his name. On March 3rd, 2021, a man picked up the ordered cell phone at a shipping company located on the 3300 block of Hawthorne Road.

The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 30-45 years old, 5’10” (178cm) to 6’0” (183cm), and medium build. He has short black hair with receding hairline. At the time of the offence, he was wearing a black puffy ski jacket with a white furry hood and a white emblem on the left upper sleeve (see photos). Investigators believe that this suspect could be from the Greater Montreal area.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact the Ottawa Police South NRT at 613-236-1222 ext. 6882.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca. 

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CONTACT:

Media Relations Section

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366

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Frauds work because they prey on victims’ honest and trusting nature

 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?page=2&newsId=86704743-4636-49f2-8be9-5239ff4d328c

Posted On Tuesday June 15, 2021

Some scams sound too good to be true with an easy-money windfall, others exploit your love for your family and then there are scammers who go after your honest nature and desire to help. That’s what happened earlier this month to a senior Ottawa resident, when he was asked to help his bank catch a credit card fraudster.

“Everyone thinks they won’t fall for a scam, but these people are incredibly convincing,” says Cst. Andrew Worth, who investigated the incident. “First, they asked if the resident had made certain credit card purchases and, sure enough, he hadn’t, because they made them up. When the scammers told him, he wouldn’t have to pay the costs, they immediately gained his trust.”

The fraudsters then asked him to help catch the fraudster.

He was given a security number to provide each time the phony bank representative called him, so they could be sure of his identity. “The fact they were being so cautious further gained the resident’s trust,” says Cst. Worth. “It felt like an extra layer of security and sounded authentic. It never occurred to him they made it up, because he’s honest and wanted to help.”

Another tactic used by the scammers was to call relentlessly. “They called hourly during the day for three days. They gave him instructions to follow, insisting he not tell anyone he was helping them and convinced him again how valuable his help was to catch the thief whenever he had second thoughts.”

The resident sent a money wire transfer and purchased several thousand dollars-worth of Google gift cards at local pharmacies before a family member called police. Cst. Worth prevented the man from turning over the gift card codes from the most recent purchase to the scammers, but it was too late to stop the wire transfer.  

“This man has financial savvy,” says Cst. Worth, “which shows how manipulative scammers are. We’re sharing this story to show these aren’t simple tricks people are falling for, they are complex, well-planned scams.”

Cst. Worth has these tips to help prevent you from being scammed:

• Never confirm any personal information over the phone.
• A bank will not ask you to use money from your account to help trap a scammer.
• Always verify who is calling. Don’t use the number given by the caller, use 411 or the Internet to get the phone number and do your own checking.
• Don’t be pressured. Take some time to process what you have been told, to see if it makes sense. Ask a trusted friend or family member for their opinion, or if in doubt, call your local police service.
• Make sure you, and elderly family members or friends, are aware of current scams and how they work. You can get information from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

As well, banks and stores should be on the lookout for these types of transactions and question them.

June is Seniors Month in Ontario. Be sure to check on elderly family members, friends and neighbours regularly, so they don’t fall prey to would-be fraudsters.

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