Global online money scams target people in southern Ontario and around the world

A global police investigation has led to hundreds of arrests around the world, including seven in the GTA, in connection with a coordinated series of online financial frauds that also included mail and identity theft and largely targeted vulnerable older adults in southern Ontario and elsewhere.

The sweeping investigation, dubbed Operation Jackal III, began with Interpol earlier this year and now involves numerous other law enforcement agencies, including Toronto Police. Interpol is an international police organization comprised of members from nearly 200 countries.

In a news release issued Friday morning, Toronto Police said the massive fraud scheme includes everything from romance and investment scams to other online frauds that target people and seek to get money via stolen identities and other criminal means.

Police said seven people from the Toronto area have been arrested and charged in connection with the alleged criminal network, which investigators believe is headquartered in West Africa and run by organized crime there.

The names of those charged have not been released by police, who said the investigation is ongoing.

“The operation focused on online financial fraud and the West African syndicates behind it,” police said in the news release.

“In Canada, these crime groups are responsible for various cyber-related frauds that often target vulnerable and elderly victims,” added Det. Sgt. Anthony Coscarella, of the Toronto Police  financial crimes unit. “Whether it’s a romance, investment or other advance fee scam, the victims of these crimes have suffered significant financial losses.”

Cheques, other documents stolen from Canada Post mailboxes

Police in Toronto said their involvement pre-dates Interpol’s Operation Jackal III as investigators on Canadian soil late in 2023 began probing a cyber-related romance fraud that targeted elderly victims on various social media platforms and was linked to West African crime groups.

Earlier this month, Toronto investigators executed search warrants as part of a mail theft/fraud investigation and made seven arrests. Those charged are accused of receiving and moving illicit funds taken from victims, with losses exceeding $1.3 million, police said.

“Suspects were found to have stolen business cheques and other financial documents from Canada Post mailboxes in the GTA and across southern Ontario in order to commit identity theft and other frauds,” police said. “Several of these frauds have been linked to West African crime groups, including Black Axe.”

Black Axe, according to Interpol, is one of the most prominent West African transnational organized crime syndicates, “with operations in cyber fraud, human trafficking, drug smuggling and violent crimes both within Africa and globally.”

Moving forward, Toronto Police said they’ll continue to hunt those who are responsible for such crimes.

“Our collaboration with Interpol and our international and national partners is crucial in tackling these sophisticated criminal networks,” added Coscarella.

300 arrests made around the world

In a news release issued Tuesday, Interpol said some 300 arrests were made around the world as a result of Operation Jackal III, which began April 10 and continued into early July. An additional 400 or so suspects have also been identified.

“A global law enforcement operation targeting West African organized crime groups, including Black Axe, has led to hundreds of arrests, the seizure of assets worth US $3 million and the dismantling of multiple criminal networks around the world,” investigators with the international police organization said.

The police operation reached into 21 countries on five continents in search of those responsible for numerous online financial frauds. In addition to the arrests, police said more than 720 bank accounts have been blocked.

“The volume of financial fraud stemming from West Africa is alarming and increasing,” Isaac Oginni, director of Interpol’s financial crime and anti-corruption centre, said. “This operation’s results underscore the critical need for international law enforcement collaboration to combat these extensive criminal networks.”