Man impersonates Chinese police officer in Ontario scam, police allege
Published October 15, 2024 at 2:48 pm
A man pretended to be a Chinese police officer in a scam that targeted an Ontario resident, police allege.
York Regional Police announced in a news release on Tuesday that an arrest has been made in connection with the case, which dates back to October 2022.
That month, a victim got a phone call from an unknown man who said he was an officer with the Shanghai municipal police, the release said.
“The victim was threatened to pay money or face being arrested for committing criminal offences,” police said.
The next month, a suspect went to the victim’s home in Markham and provided fake photo ID while claiming that it was issued by the Shanghai municipal police and Interpol, police said.
“The suspect again threatened to arrest the victim if she did not comply with providing payment to avoid being arrested,” police allege.
The suspect drove the victim to two banks, where “a quantity of money” was transferred to the suspect’s account, the release continued.
“The suspect also provided a forged document that listed him as a supervisor with Shanghai Municipal Police and authorized him to seize money in Canada on their behalf,” police said.
This month, charges were laid in the case.
Const. James Dickson told INsauga.com that “fraud investigations are very technical and very time consuming,” hence the approximately two years from the alleged incidents to the charges now being laid.
“Often it can take a very long time to get results from warrants and copies of records which are required as evidence to arrest someone,” Dickson said.
“Our fraud investigators continue to pursue leads and gather evidence until they have sufficient evidence to support their charges. Its not unusual for this kind of fraud investigation take months, if not years to complete.”
Dickson said the money in the case hasn’t been recovered. Officers haven’t said how much was allegedly taken.
On Oct. 3, Toronto resident Zhi Yong Wu was charged with impersonating a peace officer, fraud over $5,000, extortion, possession of property obtained by crime, uttering a forged document, and counterfeiting mark.
Police said investigators believe there are more victims and asked that anyone with information come forward.
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