fraud

Major fraud investigations in B.C. are usually handled by the RCMP’s FSOC unit out of its E Division headquarters in Surrey. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

Fraud in B.C.: Who investigates when millions go missing?

Dedicated fraud unit suffered from severe officer vacancies, documents show

Major fraud investigations in B.C. are usually handled by the RCMP’s FSOC unit out of its E Division headquarters in Surrey. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
Plumbing pipes are seen at Lennar at Heritage at Stonebridge, the newest 55+ active adult housing community construction site, on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. High material costs still prevail in home renovation and building. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Riskiest scams in Canada come from home renovations, cryptocurrency: BBB

2022 report reveals increases in scam susceptibility, average amount of money lost

Plumbing pipes are seen at Lennar at Heritage at Stonebridge, the newest 55+ active adult housing community construction site, on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. High material costs still prevail in home renovation and building. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)
(Black Press Media Creative)

Former Theranos exec seeks to avoid lengthy prison sentence

Former Theranos executive Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani returned to federal court Friday in…

(Black Press Media Creative)
The voice you hear on the other end of your phone call may not be who you think it is, the person you’re texting with may really be a bot and the face in a photo or video on your favourite dating app may not even exist. Technological advancements in artificial intelligence create the potential to fuel romance scams, said Jeff Clune, an associate professor of computer science at the University of British Columbia. A young person uses a smart phone in Chicago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP

Online romance scammers may have a new wingman — artificial intelligence

AI can be harnessed to mimic voices and faces

The voice you hear on the other end of your phone call may not be who you think it is, the person you’re texting with may really be a bot and the face in a photo or video on your favourite dating app may not even exist. Technological advancements in artificial intelligence create the potential to fuel romance scams, said Jeff Clune, an associate professor of computer science at the University of British Columbia. A young person uses a smart phone in Chicago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP
A West Vancouver woman was arrested Jan. 11 for allegedly stealing $80,000 from a North Vancouver business she was working at. (Credit: Pixabay)

Metro Vancouver business claims employee stole $80K while owner was on vacation

West Vancouver woman arrested on allegations of fraud

A West Vancouver woman was arrested Jan. 11 for allegedly stealing $80,000 from a North Vancouver business she was working at. (Credit: Pixabay)
An ex-principal of Britannia Community Elementary School in Vancouver is facing a lawsuit from the school district, which claims she stole more than $170,000 from the school. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Former B.C. principal stole $170K from Vancouver elementary school, lawsuit claims

Tricia Low accused of stealing gift cards from families in need, using school funds for herself

An ex-principal of Britannia Community Elementary School in Vancouver is facing a lawsuit from the school district, which claims she stole more than $170,000 from the school. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The RCMP says many tips from Canada’s financial intelligence agency about possible crimes “may not get investigated” due to a lack of policing resources and conflicting priorities. The Mounties make the candid admission in a briefing note prepared for Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino on the working relationship between the national police force and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, known as Fintrac. Money seized by police during a bust is displayed at RCMP headquarters In Surrey, B.C., on December 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Tips on shady finances ‘may not get investigated’ amid police constraints: RCMP note

Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada reports can be a lengthy process

The RCMP says many tips from Canada’s financial intelligence agency about possible crimes “may not get investigated” due to a lack of policing resources and conflicting priorities. The Mounties make the candid admission in a briefing note prepared for Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino on the working relationship between the national police force and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, known as Fintrac. Money seized by police during a bust is displayed at RCMP headquarters In Surrey, B.C., on December 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers of the risk of online shopping scams as the busy holiday shopping season gets underway. (Courtesy of Better Business Bureau)

BBB warning of online shopping scams this holiday season

Online shopping scams reached record highs last year, and are on track to match or surpass this year

The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers of the risk of online shopping scams as the busy holiday shopping season gets underway. (Courtesy of Better Business Bureau)
Robert Riley Saunders leaving court during a cross examination in Kelowna. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Okanagan Nation Alliance demands inquiry into foster care after fraudulent social worker case

Saunders stole approximately $461,000 intended for 107 primarily Indigenous youth in his care

Robert Riley Saunders leaving court during a cross examination in Kelowna. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
(Black Press Media Creative)

Shakira to stand trial on tax fraud charges in Spain

Shakira has been ordered to stand trial on 2018 allegations the pop…

(Black Press Media Creative)
A police officer and a service dog enter the Calgary Courts Centre on May 17, 2021. A Calgary man who bilked his clients out of millions of dollars in a Ponzi scheme is scheduled to be sentenced today. Arnold Breitkreutz was convicted in June of fraud over five thousand dollars, for what the Crown described as a multimillion-dollar scheme in which investors believed they were putting money into safe first mortgages. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Calgary man convicted in multimillion dollar Ponzi scheme sentenced to 10 years

Arnold Breitkreutz ordered to pay $3.1 million in restitution

A police officer and a service dog enter the Calgary Courts Centre on May 17, 2021. A Calgary man who bilked his clients out of millions of dollars in a Ponzi scheme is scheduled to be sentenced today. Arnold Breitkreutz was convicted in June of fraud over five thousand dollars, for what the Crown described as a multimillion-dollar scheme in which investors believed they were putting money into safe first mortgages. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Timothy Durkin is pictured in a photograph filed in Federal Court. The B.C. Securities Commission claims the Sooke man defrauded an investor out of $1 million. (Federal Court)

Facebook fails to get $50M lawsuit by accused B.C. fraudster dismissed by court

Timothy Durkin says Facebook was negligent in refusing to remove an account impersonating him

Timothy Durkin is pictured in a photograph filed in Federal Court. The B.C. Securities Commission claims the Sooke man defrauded an investor out of $1 million. (Federal Court)
Robert Riley Saunders. (File)

Fraudulent Kelowna social worker sentenced to 5 years in prison

Riley Saunders stole approximately $461,000 that was intended for over 107 youth in his care

Robert Riley Saunders. (File)
Craig James, former clerk of the B.C. legislature, leaves B.C. Supreme Court on Jan. 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Craig James trial: Crown seeks prison time while defence says public shaming enough

Craig James was found guilty of fraud and breach of trust in May

Craig James, former clerk of the B.C. legislature, leaves B.C. Supreme Court on Jan. 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The B.C. Securities Commission is asking ICBC not to renew the driver’s license of a man who owes $7.6-million in fraud fines. (Stock photo)

B.C. man owing $7.6M in fraud fines could have driver’s licence pulled: Securities commission

BCSC gained new licence-blocking power back in March 2021

The B.C. Securities Commission is asking ICBC not to renew the driver’s license of a man who owes $7.6-million in fraud fines. (Stock photo)
The Abbotsford Police Department is warning about a recent online “romance scam” that saw a local senior lose $270,000. (Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash)

Online ‘romance scam’ sees Abbotsford senior lose $270K

Police warn that it’s almost impossible to catch fraudsters in such cases

The Abbotsford Police Department is warning about a recent online “romance scam” that saw a local senior lose $270,000. (Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash)
Courtney Vasseur, a member of Hells Angels in B.C., faces fraud charges out the United States for his alleged involvement in an international stock manipulation ring. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. Hells Angel charged in crackdown on international stock manipulation ring

Same investigation alleges Vancouver businessman David Sidoo was involved

Courtney Vasseur, a member of Hells Angels in B.C., faces fraud charges out the United States for his alleged involvement in an international stock manipulation ring. (Black Press Media file photo)
FILE - Vancouver businessman David Sidoo leaves following his federal court hearing March 15, 2019 in a nationwide college admissions cheating scheme in Boston. Sidoo is now accused in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme dating between 2013 and 2018. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via AP, File)

B.C. businessman David Sidoo accused in $145 million US ‘pump-and-dump’ scheme

U.S. SEC alleges former CFL player worked in multi-player ring to trick investors out of millions

FILE - Vancouver businessman David Sidoo leaves following his federal court hearing March 15, 2019 in a nationwide college admissions cheating scheme in Boston. Sidoo is now accused in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme dating between 2013 and 2018. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via AP, File)
Bitcoin tokens are symbolic since the cryptocurrency itself really exists only digitally. Dan Kitwood | Getty Images

RCMP dismantle 8 Cryptocurrency scam websites after numerous B.C. residents duped

BC RCMP Federal Policing Cybercrime Operations Group shuts down bogus online cryptocurrency investment platforms

Bitcoin tokens are symbolic since the cryptocurrency itself really exists only digitally. Dan Kitwood | Getty Images
Ocean Park residents Gordon and Ester Rice recently lost $8,900 due to a fraud. (Aaron Hinks photo)

Swindler pretends to be grandson, scams B.C. seniors out of $8,900

Surrey RCMP are investigating as couple issues warning to others to be on their guard

Ocean Park residents Gordon and Ester Rice recently lost $8,900 due to a fraud. (Aaron Hinks photo)