fraud

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

 

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

 

Coast Capital Savings is reminding its members to be vigilant for scammers impersonating its real website. (File photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Fraud alert: Coast Capital issues warning to members due to imposter websites

Vigilance needed as scammers continue to get more sophisticated

 

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)
A Saanichton resident has been banned permanently from investment trading in B.C. (Photo by Nicholas Cappello on Unsplash) Photo by Nicholas Cappello on Unsplash

Greater Victoria man jailed for Ponzi scheme, blowing investors’ money on Lamborghini

The man from Saanichton is also banned permanently from the B.C. investment market

A Saanichton resident has been banned permanently from investment trading in B.C. (Photo by Nicholas Cappello on Unsplash) Photo by Nicholas Cappello on Unsplash
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
Historic Sooke Harbour House. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke man defrauded woman out of $1M after ‘lying’ about ownership of historic hotel: BCSC ruling

The $1M was spent and has not been recovered yet

Historic Sooke Harbour House. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
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
Police are warning the public about suspicious buyers on the Used Victoria website. (iStock photo)

Police warn of a spate of scams on Used Victoria site

Buyers give cheques for higher amount, asking people to send extra to a different account

Police are warning the public about suspicious buyers on the Used Victoria website. (iStock 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)
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)
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 Sooke 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)
Police are alerting the public to be wary of an online rental scam after a Nanaimo man paid a deposit only to find the rental property was occupied. (Black Press Media file photo)

Nanaimo renter defrauded by fake landlord, finds accommodations already occupied

Victim e-transfers thousands to fraudster

Police are alerting the public to be wary of an online rental scam after a Nanaimo man paid a deposit only to find the rental property was occupied. (Black Press Media file photo)
Craig James, former clerk of the B.C. legislature, leaves B.C. Supreme Court on Jan. 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Craig James trial: Crown seeks prison time while defence says public shaming enough

Craig James was found guilty of fraud and breach of trust in May

Craig James, former clerk of the B.C. legislature, leaves B.C. Supreme Court on Jan. 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Port Alberni bookkeeper Dawn Olson is facing three concurrent conditional sentences of nine months after stealing from three Ucluelet businesses. She was sentenced in Ucluelet provincial court on June 6, 2022. (Cliff MacArthur/provincialcourt.bc.ca photo)

Vancouver Island bookkeeper sentenced to 9 months house arrest for defrauding three Ucluelet businesses

From 2018 to 2020, Dawn Olson cut herself 67 extra cheques in the $500 to $900 range

Port Alberni bookkeeper Dawn Olson is facing three concurrent conditional sentences of nine months after stealing from three Ucluelet businesses. She was sentenced in Ucluelet provincial court on June 6, 2022. (Cliff MacArthur/provincialcourt.bc.ca photo)
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