fraud

The B.C. Securities Commission says a now-defunct cryptocurrency platform based in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island committed a multimillion-dollar securities fraud involving various digital currencies. An advertisement for bitcoin, one of the cryptocurrencies, is displayed on a building in Hong Kong, on Nov. 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Kin Cheung

Securities Commission alleges fraud committed by B.C. crypto firm

Company allegedly diverted about $13 million worth of cryptocurrency to online gambling sites

 

Burnaby RCMP say a senior was defrauded $7.5 million in a recent long-term cryptocurrency scam. (Credit: Shutterstock)

B.C. senior defrauded $7.5 million in long-term cryptocurrency scam

Burnaby RCMP say it’s one of the largest personal scams the detachment has ever seen

 

In the third part of our series on fraud, we look at Matthew Brooks, convicted of a $6 million bank fraud, whose home was targeted in a drive-by shooting that was never solved. Others lost millions to Brooks just before and during a lengthy RCMP investigation. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance Times)

FRAUD IN B.C.: Millions vanished from roadbuilder at centre of lengthy fraud investigation

A drive-by shooting, accusations of Hells Angels involvement, and investors never paid back

 

Murrayville House was for a time a project of developer Mark Chandler, before debts and lawsuits forced it into receivership. Some units were sold two, three, even four times before the courts got involved. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

Fraud in B.C.: Developer twice convicted in U.S. leaves condo chaos in Langley

Mark Chandler has never been convicted in Canada

Murrayville House was for a time a project of developer Mark Chandler, before debts and lawsuits forced it into receivership. Some units were sold two, three, even four times before the courts got involved. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
Major fraud investigations in B.C. are usually handled by the RCMP’s FSOC unit out of its E Division headquarters in Surrey. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

Fraud in B.C.: Who investigates when millions go missing?

Dedicated fraud unit suffered from severe officer vacancies, documents show

Major fraud investigations in B.C. are usually handled by the RCMP’s FSOC unit out of its E Division headquarters in Surrey. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
Plumbing pipes are seen at Lennar at Heritage at Stonebridge, the newest 55+ active adult housing community construction site, on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. High material costs still prevail in home renovation and building. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Riskiest scams in Canada come from home renovations, cryptocurrency: BBB

2022 report reveals increases in scam susceptibility, average amount of money lost

Plumbing pipes are seen at Lennar at Heritage at Stonebridge, the newest 55+ active adult housing community construction site, on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. High material costs still prevail in home renovation and building. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)
(Black Press Media Creative)

Former Theranos exec seeks to avoid lengthy prison sentence

Former Theranos executive Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani returned to federal court Friday in…

(Black Press Media Creative)
The voice you hear on the other end of your phone call may not be who you think it is, the person you’re texting with may really be a bot and the face in a photo or video on your favourite dating app may not even exist. Technological advancements in artificial intelligence create the potential to fuel romance scams, said Jeff Clune, an associate professor of computer science at the University of British Columbia. A young person uses a smart phone in Chicago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP

Online romance scammers may have a new wingman — artificial intelligence

AI can be harnessed to mimic voices and faces

The voice you hear on the other end of your phone call may not be who you think it is, the person you’re texting with may really be a bot and the face in a photo or video on your favourite dating app may not even exist. Technological advancements in artificial intelligence create the potential to fuel romance scams, said Jeff Clune, an associate professor of computer science at the University of British Columbia. A young person uses a smart phone in Chicago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP
Vernon woman Michelle Hampton pleaded guilty to fraud over $5,000 after she defrauded Down’s Residence in 2010. The plea was made in Vernon court Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Google Street View)

Vernon woman pleads guilty to defrauding local care home

Michelle Hampton was a former employee at Down’s Residence in Vernon

Vernon woman Michelle Hampton pleaded guilty to fraud over $5,000 after she defrauded Down’s Residence in 2010. The plea was made in Vernon court Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Google Street View)
An ex-principal of Britannia Community Elementary School in Vancouver is facing a lawsuit from the school district, which claims she stole more than $170,000 from the school. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Former B.C. principal stole $170K from Vancouver elementary school, lawsuit claims

Tricia Low accused of stealing gift cards from families in need, using school funds for herself

An ex-principal of Britannia Community Elementary School in Vancouver is facing a lawsuit from the school district, which claims she stole more than $170,000 from the school. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The RCMP says many tips from Canada’s financial intelligence agency about possible crimes “may not get investigated” due to a lack of policing resources and conflicting priorities. The Mounties make the candid admission in a briefing note prepared for Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino on the working relationship between the national police force and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, known as Fintrac. Money seized by police during a bust is displayed at RCMP headquarters In Surrey, B.C., on December 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Tips on shady finances ‘may not get investigated’ amid police constraints: RCMP note

Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada reports can be a lengthy process

The RCMP says many tips from Canada’s financial intelligence agency about possible crimes “may not get investigated” due to a lack of policing resources and conflicting priorities. The Mounties make the candid admission in a briefing note prepared for Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino on the working relationship between the national police force and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, known as Fintrac. Money seized by police during a bust is displayed at RCMP headquarters In Surrey, B.C., on December 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Kamloops police warn of scammers asking for money to help a loved one in legal trouble. (File photo)

Scammers in Kamloops demand in-person meeting with targets

Police warn of ruse when someone asks for money to help a loved one in legal trouble

  • Dec 29, 2022
Kamloops police warn of scammers asking for money to help a loved one in legal trouble. (File photo)
The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers of the risk of online shopping scams as the busy holiday shopping season gets underway. (Courtesy of Better Business Bureau)

BBB warning of online shopping scams this holiday season

Online shopping scams reached record highs last year, and are on track to match or surpass this year

The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers of the risk of online shopping scams as the busy holiday shopping season gets underway. (Courtesy of Better Business Bureau)
RCMP is asking for the public’s help in identifying two suspects involved in the use of stolen credit cards in Summerland. (Photo- Summerland RCMP)

RCMP looking for couple who used stolen credit cards in Summerland

Police say the credit cards were previously inside a vehicle that was stolen in Princeton

RCMP is asking for the public’s help in identifying two suspects involved in the use of stolen credit cards in Summerland. (Photo- Summerland RCMP)
Robert Riley Saunders leaving court during a cross examination in Kelowna. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Okanagan Nation Alliance demands inquiry into foster care after fraudulent social worker case

Saunders stole approximately $461,000 intended for 107 primarily Indigenous youth in his care

Robert Riley Saunders leaving court during a cross examination in Kelowna. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
(Black Press Media Creative)

Shakira to stand trial on tax fraud charges in Spain

Shakira has been ordered to stand trial on 2018 allegations the pop…

(Black Press Media Creative)
Vernon North Okanagan RCMP are asking residents planning home renovations to use due diligence when seeking a contractor, as two area residents have been scammed out of more than $16,000 after finding a contractor through a Facebook ad. (File photo)

RCMP warn of Okanagan contractor fraud

Two Vernon area residents scammed out of thousands after hiring company through social media ad

Vernon North Okanagan RCMP are asking residents planning home renovations to use due diligence when seeking a contractor, as two area residents have been scammed out of more than $16,000 after finding a contractor through a Facebook ad. (File photo)
A police officer and a service dog enter the Calgary Courts Centre on May 17, 2021. A Calgary man who bilked his clients out of millions of dollars in a Ponzi scheme is scheduled to be sentenced today. Arnold Breitkreutz was convicted in June of fraud over five thousand dollars, for what the Crown described as a multimillion-dollar scheme in which investors believed they were putting money into safe first mortgages. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Calgary man convicted in multimillion dollar Ponzi scheme sentenced to 10 years

Arnold Breitkreutz ordered to pay $3.1 million in restitution

A police officer and a service dog enter the Calgary Courts Centre on May 17, 2021. A Calgary man who bilked his clients out of millions of dollars in a Ponzi scheme is scheduled to be sentenced today. Arnold Breitkreutz was convicted in June of fraud over five thousand dollars, for what the Crown described as a multimillion-dollar scheme in which investors believed they were putting money into safe first mortgages. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Timothy Durkin is pictured in a photograph filed in Federal Court. The B.C. Securities Commission claims the Sooke man defrauded an investor out of $1 million. (Federal Court)

Facebook fails to get $50M lawsuit by accused B.C. fraudster dismissed by court

Timothy Durkin says Facebook was negligent in refusing to remove an account impersonating him

Timothy Durkin is pictured in a photograph filed in Federal Court. The B.C. Securities Commission claims the Sooke man defrauded an investor out of $1 million. (Federal Court)
Robert Riley Saunders. (File)

Fraudulent Kelowna social worker sentenced to 5 years in prison

Riley Saunders stole approximately $461,000 that was intended for over 107 youth in his care

Robert Riley Saunders. (File)