Jordan David Shepherd, who was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant, was arrested by Nanaimo RCMP early this morning.
Ladysmith RCMP issued the warrant for Shepherd’s arrest Wednesday.
Shepherd, 34, of Nanaimo, was wanted for allegedly defrauding numerous women he dated in Nanaimo, Ladysmith and New Westminster.
According to police he was arrested at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday without incident.
“He was sleeping in a car outside a local motel … he appears in court today,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.
Police allege that Shepherd, who sometimes goes by Dave Rofter, met women in their 20s or 30s in person, via social media or the Plenty of Fish online dating website and asked them to deposit cheques for him using his business account, On the Rocks Surveying. RCMP say Shepherd would tell women he lost his bank card or didn’t have it, and when the women cashed the cheques for him, they would be later notified that On the Rocks Surveying didn’t exist.
“Some of the women who fell prey to Shepherd have taken to social media to warn other women of his actions. We too wish to warn others and hopefully encourage any who have not come forward yet, to do so. Shepherd needs to held accountable for his actions,” said O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, in a press release Wednesday.
The arrest coincides with the start of Fraud Prevention Month, which starts today, March 1.
“March is Fraud Awareness month,” O’Brien said in an e-mail. “With the arrest of Jordan Shepherd it is only fitting we acknowledge there are those amongst us who will go to any length to take your hard earned money, regardless of the pain or financial loss suffer.”
O’Brien also said, in an RCMP press release issued Thursday, that news of Shepherd’s arrest warrant generated a large response on social media.
“The news release concerning Shepherd was posted to our detachment Facebook account and within hours, was viewed 20,0000 [times] and shared over 700 times. This story obviously touched a cord with many. Additionally, other victims have now come forward and will be interviewed by investigators assigned to this matter,” O’Brien said.
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