In March 2013, The Timmins Police Service was notified by the Halton Regional Police Service that a local 76 year old woman was possibly a victim of an elaborate fraud scheme.
Working from this tip, the Timmins Police Service conducted an investigation that revealed that the elderly victim had been defrauded of approximately $26,000. Police were able to determine that several victims across North America had been convinced that they were winners of large sums of money. The suspect(s) then convinced the victims that taxes and processing fees had to be covered prior to the release of their lottery winnings.
It was also revealed that the suspect(s) would utilize tactics to gain their victim’s trust such as depositing small amounts of money in their accounts. Once the trust was gained, the suspect(s) were able to convince the victim to forward them additional funds. The Timmins Police Service determined that more victims were located in Boyle Alberta and Peterborough Ontario. Police were able to trace the funds to places such as, Georgia, USA, Derby Connecticut, USA, West Palm Beach, Florida and then eventually to Jamaica.
As a result of this fraud, the Timmins victim has suffered tremendous financial hardship. The suspect(s) were able to obtain all of the victim’s confidential information which has also forced her to change all of her personal contact information.
These types of crime often involve police agencies from within the province as well as other countries, therefore making it very difficult to identify the suspects. Police urge the public to remain cautious and to simply hang up the phone when engaged by suspicious telephone solicitors. These criminals will stop at nothing to profit from those who they feel are unsuspecting.
