Sault Police Seeking Identity of Fraud Suspect
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service’s Fraud Unit is seeking information regarding the identity of an individual involved in a fraud incident which took place in late July of 2024.
The victim had received a phone call from someone claiming to work for an anti-virus software company at which the victim pays for services. The caller, who said their name was Edward, advised the victim they had been overpaying for the service and requested their banking information so they could return $350 in overpaid funds.
The victim provided their banking information and received a deposit of $35,000 in their account. The victim received another call stating a mistake had been made with the amount deposited and the caller would lose their job if the money was not returned in cash.
On July 26, 2024, an individual (see attached photo) arrived at the victim’s residence and collected a large sum of cash from the victim, who believed they were returning some of the money that was not theirs.
An investigation revealed the $35,000 deposited into the victim’s account was from their own line of credit and the cash they had given to the individual was their own.
If you have information regarding the identity of the individual involved in this incident, or security camera footage from McFadden Avenue from the evening of July 26, 2024, please contact Detective Constable Wayne Taylor at (705) 949-6300 ext. 389.
You can provide information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 705-942-7867 or 1-800-222-8477. You can also click here to submit a web-tip or download the P3 app. Your tip to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and protected by case law.
If you receive a phone call from someone requesting your information, do not provide it. Hang up and call your service provider with the phone number listed on your bill to verify the situation. For more information on how to protect yourself from fraud, click here.
