Ontario man charged after Hebbville investment scam investigation

A 65-year-old Ontario man is facing a fraud charge following a lengthy investigation into an online investment scam that began with a complaint from a Lunenburg County resident.

RCMP say the investigation started on October 6, 2023, when a person in Hebbville reported losing more than $65,000 after investing with what they believed was a legitimate investment company based in the United Kingdom.

According to police, the victim attempted to purchase Government of Canada savings bonds and sent wire transfers to bank accounts they believed were affiliated with the company.

As the investigation progressed, officers learned there were multiple victims across Canada connected to the same scheme.

Police say victims were promised interest payments on their investments. When those payments never arrived and attempts to contact company representatives failed, victims contacted the legitimate business directly and learned they had been defrauded.

Investigation expanded across Canada

Due to the number of complaints received nationwide, the files were forwarded to the RCMP’s Integrated Market Enforcement Team in Calgary.

Following what police describe as a lengthy investigation, investigators identified a suspect connected to the Hebbville complaint and shared the information with Lunenburg District RCMP.

A 65-year-old man from Palgrave, Ontario, has now been charged with fraud.

He is scheduled to appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court on June 17.

Corporal Dominic Laflamme of the Lunenburg District RCMP said the case highlights the importance of reporting fraud.

“Fraud investigations are often complex and can span multiple jurisdictions, which makes them challenging,” he said.

“This case demonstrates how information shared across jurisdictions can help police identify suspects and advance investigations.”

RCMP are reminding anyone who believes they may have been targeted by a scam to contact local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.