KAWARTHA LAKES-The City of Kawartha Lakes OPP arrested a Clarington resident in connection with various local frauds and are asking the public to come forward if they believe they were victimized in the same scam.
In May of 2023, members of the City of Kawartha Lakes Community Street Crimes Unit (CSCU) began an investigation into several frauds and property crime related offences, which they say were linked to the same individual.
Police contend the individual, who identified as a heavy equipment operator/contractor, would present fraudulent services for recreational vehicle (RV) and car detailing, as well as use fraudulent names, online accounts, and emails for e-transfers to sell non-existent items, such as vehicles, tires, and boats.
The investigation identified frauds taking place beyond the City of Kawartha Lakes, including locations in Haliburton Highlands, Peterborough, Essex County, Almaguin Highlands, Saugeen Shores and Niagara.
As a result of the investigation, the City of Kawartha Lake CSCU made an arrest on June 8, 2023.
Chris Graham has been charged with Fraud Under $5,000, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime and Fraud Over $5,000.
The accused has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Lindsay on June 22, 2023.
If you think you may have been victimized by this same fraud, please contact your local police service or the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
Below are some tips to stay safe from similar scams:
- Look out for text with spelling errors or references to the product as “the item”.
- Know the market value of the product you are looking for.
- Locate and verify the sellers contact information (address, phone number, email) before you buy.
- Look for customer reviews and ratings from third-party sources.
- Whenever possible, pick up items and provide the payment in person or use a payment method with fraud protection (e.g. pay by credit card)
- Review all email information to make sure they are coming from a legitimate source.
- Do an online search to see if anyone has already reported the fraudulent buyer or seller.
- Be leery of the request for upfront costs/deposits, especially if you have not met in person and do not have any identifying information about the individual or company.
- If you suspect something may be a fraud, consult with a close friend, family member, call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or your local police.
- If you are suspicious of a transaction, find another service/seller.
For more tips check out:
https://www.antifraudcentre-
https://www.antifraudcentre-
