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Police warn of North Stars sponsorship scam

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The Thunder Bay Police Service is warning local businesses and vendors about a scam involving individuals falsely claiming to represent the Thunder Bay North Stars hockey team.

Police say they received a report from the North Stars about unauthorized emails being sent to members of the public and potential vendors about sponsorship opportunities and participation at North Stars home games.

According to investigators, the emails invite businesses and food vendors to apply for sponsorships or vendor opportunities. The message includes an application form requesting a $500 deposit.

Recipients are directed to send the payment to the email address miketallarithunderbaynorthstars@yahoo.com.

Police stress that these communications are not legitimate and have not been authorized by the Thunder Bay North Stars organization.

Anyone who receives this request is encouraged to contact the organization directly to verify the legitimacy before sending money or personal information.

For more information about fraud prevention, visit the Thunder Bay Police Service website or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Anyone wishing to report a fraud or cybercrime can do so through TBPS’s online reporting system.

A Computer System Hacked Warning

Telecommunication fraud increasing in northwestern Ontario

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Provincial Police are reminding area residents to be wary of individuals posing as employees of telecommunications companies.

OPP say they have seen an increase in reports of residents receiving calls from someone claiming to be from a telecom company, suggesting that equipment needs to be replaced and online access is required.

In one such case in Kenora, the victim was persuaded to access their online banking information, which the fraudster used to gain access and attempt to steal money.

In another case in Fort Frances, the victim was convinced to send money after being told their bank account had been compromised.

OPP says others have reportedly been contacted by email and text messages, with the fraudster’s goal of creating a sense of urgency and getting victims to act before they can verify the legitimacy of the request.

They say there are steps you can take to protect yourself:

  • Be cautious of unsolicited calls requesting access to your computer, banking apps, or personal information, especially those that pressure you to act immediately.
  • Legitimate companies will not use aggressive or high-pressure tactics to obtain access to your devices or financial information.
  • Be wary of requests involving unusual payment methods such as wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
  • Never provide remote access to your computer or device to an unsolicited caller.
  • Do not log into your online banking at the direction of someone who contacted you unexpectedly.

OPP remind people never to reveal personal or financial information over the phone to unknown callers.

If you question the call, hang up and contact your telecom directly.

If you suspect your banking information may have been compromised, contact your financial institution immediately.

To report a cybercrime or if you suspect you have been a victim, call the Ontario Provincial Police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s (CAFC) online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501.

The RCMP badge can be seen on the shoulder of a police officer.

61-year-old man sentenced after Dieppe fraud case

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A 61-year-old man from Jardineville has been sentenced after a years-long fraud investigation in the Dieppe area.

The Codiac Regional RCMP said the case began nearly seven years ago.

The investigation started in 2019 after receiving a report that an individual was collecting payments for services allegedly provided under the name of a former specialized automotive and industrial service business in Dieppe.

The Forensic Accounting Management Group completed a comprehensive audit on September 26, 2023, according to the RCMP.

The audit’s findings and recommendations were forwarded to investigators for review and action.

On November 7, 2023, a 61-year-old man attended the Codiac Regional RCMP Detachment and was arrested.

He was released pending a future court appearance.

Police reported that on July 16, 2024, Charles Arsenault appeared in court and was charged with fraud over $5 000, theft over $5 000, and forgery.

He was released from custody while awaiting further proceedings.

The RCMP said Arsenault returned to court on August 14, 2026, where he was sentenced to 22 months in jail, minus time served, and ordered to pay more than $100 000 in restitution.

Anyone who believes they have been a victim of fraud is encouraged to contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1‑888‑495‑8501, the appropriate government agency, or their financial institution.

Anonymous information can also be provided through Crime Stoppers at 1‑800‑222‑TIPS (8477), the P3 Mobile App, or Secure Web Tips.

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RCMP believe call for help was actually a scam

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RCMP officers are investigating a potentially fraudulent report of a medical emergency.

On Monday, Aug. 24, just before 4:00 p.m., officers say they received a call about someone needing medical help on a trail near Ingonish Beach.

RCMP, along with other agencies including Parks Canada, EHS, and fire services responded immediately, conducting an extensive search of the area. Searchers even used tools like off-road vehicles and drones to try to locate the person.

After several hours with no luck, RCMP called off the search. Officers say they found no evidence of anyone needing medical support in the area.

Now, RCMP says they think the report was a scam, and potentially a version of “swatting”, which is described as a false report about an emergency or serious incident meant to tie up first responders.

Officers are working to identify the source of the call that came through via 211 Nova Scotia after it had been contacted by text to request help.

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Arichat man facing theft, fraud following multi-year commercial crime investigation

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An Arichat man is facing fraud-related offences after a complex investigation into the alleged misappropriation and theft of trust funds.

Police say the 54-year-old has been charged with:

  • Fraud Over $5,000
  • Theft Over $5,000
  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
  • Criminal Breach of Trust

According to the RCMP, the investigation named Project HUBRIS, started in January 2019 after multiple complaints against the man and his law firm.

It was extensive in scope with statements from more than 100 victims and witnesses in Canada and the United States and a search of the law office in September 2021.

According to the RCMP, “This process was completed in August 2024.”

The investigation continued with the help of forensics which helped investigators analyze financial records, evidence and “the review of thousands of documents and hours of victim testimony.”

The man is scheduled to make his first court appearance in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court on October 26th.

OPP cruiser logo

Provincial Police charge 2 Rainy River District area men with fraud

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Two area men on bail have been charged again by Provincial Police.

O-P-P are connecting a 23-year-old from Devlin and a 26-year-old from Fort Frances to the theft of a wallet from a vehicle.

Police say the owner’s credit cards were later used to make purchases.

Security footage from the businesses where the cards were used helped police track down two.

OPP says the pair were well known to police and had been out on bail for previous property crime offences.

The 23-year-old was charged with one count of fraud and possession of property obtained by crime.

They will make court appearances in the near future.

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Store security footage helps OPP arrest 2 Fort Frances men for fraud

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Two Fort Frances men remain in custody following the theft of a wallet.

It was reported stolen last week from a parked vehicle on Riverside Drive in Fort Frances.

Provincial Police say credit cards were then used at several businesses.

Police were able to connect a 46-year-old and a 22-year-old to the purchases using store security footage and the times the transactions were made.

The two men face several charges, including fraud, use of a credit card obtained by crime and possession of property obtained by crime.

The 46-year-old was also found breaching probation.

Both men are scheduled for bail hearings this week.

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Tips to avoid common scams

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March is Fraud Prevention Month, so the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is sharing tips to avoid common scams.

Scammers target individuals through emails, phone calls, and social media messages. Online shopping scams, phishing (fraudulent emails or messages pretending to be from reputable companies), and investment fraud are among the most common scams reported to the Better Business Bureau.

The BBB recommends that businesses and consumers not send money to someone that you have not met, never to click links or attachments sent by unsolicited emails or texts, not to trust the legitimacy of something based upon its looks or design, resist any pressures to forfeit information or money, and to monitor accounts for suspected fraud or identity theft.

Visit the Better Business Bureau’s scam tracker to report a suspected scam.

Learn more about Fraud Prevention Month here.

Close-up of a hand typing on a computer keyboard.

Dieppe women arrested in rental deposit scam

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Two people from Dieppe have been arrested in connection with a rental deposit scam.

Codiac RCMP say a 28-year-old woman was arrested on March 3, and another woman, who is 44 years old, was arrested two days later.

In February, police received several reports of rentals advertised on social media, but once the first month’s rent was paid, the fraudster would stop communication.

Police say two victims were defrauded of $7000 total.

The RCMP has reason to believe there may be additional victims.

The suspects are believed to have used multiple names, aliases, and email addresses to receive e‑transfer payments.

Anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of this scam is asked to contact the Codiac RCMP at 506‑857‑2400.

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AI fraud costs New Brunswickers more than $6M

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New Brunswickers reported losing more than $6.2 million to investment frauds and scams last year.

The majority were committed online.

According to the Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has opened new avenues for fraudsters to mislead people.

“These days, fraudsters are using AI and deepfakes to make scams look and sound real,” said Marissa Sollows, the FCNB’s director of communications and public affairs.

“You might hear a familiar voice, see a well-known face or receive a message that feels trustworthy, even though it isn’t.”

FCNB’s figure for 2025 is slightly above the $6 million lost to investment scams reported the year before to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), which collects information on fraud and identity theft nationally.

The CAFC estimates only five per cent of fraud is ever reported.

“So the actual amount of money scammed from New Brunswickers could be much higher,” Sollows said.

In an effort to educate the public, and as part of Fraud Prevention Month in March, the FCNB will host a free webinar designed to help New Brunswickers recognize financial fraud in the digital age.

“We’re sharing practical tips to help you protect yourself, your loved ones and the people you support from scams,” Sollows said.

The webinar, Fraud Has a New Face: AI, Deepfakes, and Why Scams Can Be So Hard to Spot, will be held in English on March 17 and in French on March 18 via Zoom.

It will outline how scammers operate and some warning signs to watch for.

Sollows said other tips are available on the FCNB website.

FCNB has also developed two online guides to educate the public.

The first is called Protecting yourself from AI and deepfake scams, featuring overviews of the common types of online scams.

The second, Celebrity Endorsements: Don’t have stars in your eyes, details how celebrities, politicians, journalists and other well-known personalities can have their images or voices manipulated or faked to try to lend legitimacy to offers of goods or services.

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