FraudNews
10-11-2013, 12:19 PM
Three people were arrested in Calgary, Canada on Thursday after a combined team of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and other anti-fraud investigators from the U.S. obtained enough evidence to break a “Mystery Shopper” fraud ring.
The three arrested were Emmanuel Davies Uzonwanne, 37, of Calgary, Tina Marie Uzonwanne, also from Calgary, and Daniel Tochukwu Ezeani, 34, of Cochrane.
The perpetrators operated a mail fraud scam from Calgary that targeted U.S. citizens. There were 10 U.S. citizens victimized by the scam with a combined loss of $21,000.
The three would target those in the U.S. by presenting a mystery shopper opportunity where participants would evaluate the customer service of a retail venue. Those who participated were sent fraudulent checks and they had to deposit them in their bank and return 90% of the face value. A contract was also included in the envelope.
The victims were instructed to return the 90% through a money transfer service to various end points throughout the globe that includes the United Kingdom.
The fraudulent checks failed to clear but since the participants had already withdrawn the money they were liable for it.
The checks appeared authentic because the perpetrators used check paper, computer printers, and software for check writing.
Inspector Gordon Sereda of the RCMP told reporters that the operation had a high level of coordination with accomplices operating out of the U.K.
The investigation has been in progress since 2011 when the RCMP was first notified by the Canada Post. The Canada Post and the U.S. Postal Service combined efforts to identify and intercept thousands of the envelopes sent by the ring. Their efforts prevented many others from getting pulled into the scam. No charges will be brought on the victims.
The three arrested have an October 22 court appearance scheduled where they will face charges of mail fraud and possessing instruments for making stamp impressions, counterfeit stamps, and forgeries.
The three arrested were Emmanuel Davies Uzonwanne, 37, of Calgary, Tina Marie Uzonwanne, also from Calgary, and Daniel Tochukwu Ezeani, 34, of Cochrane.
The perpetrators operated a mail fraud scam from Calgary that targeted U.S. citizens. There were 10 U.S. citizens victimized by the scam with a combined loss of $21,000.
The three would target those in the U.S. by presenting a mystery shopper opportunity where participants would evaluate the customer service of a retail venue. Those who participated were sent fraudulent checks and they had to deposit them in their bank and return 90% of the face value. A contract was also included in the envelope.
The victims were instructed to return the 90% through a money transfer service to various end points throughout the globe that includes the United Kingdom.
The fraudulent checks failed to clear but since the participants had already withdrawn the money they were liable for it.
The checks appeared authentic because the perpetrators used check paper, computer printers, and software for check writing.
Inspector Gordon Sereda of the RCMP told reporters that the operation had a high level of coordination with accomplices operating out of the U.K.
The investigation has been in progress since 2011 when the RCMP was first notified by the Canada Post. The Canada Post and the U.S. Postal Service combined efforts to identify and intercept thousands of the envelopes sent by the ring. Their efforts prevented many others from getting pulled into the scam. No charges will be brought on the victims.
The three arrested have an October 22 court appearance scheduled where they will face charges of mail fraud and possessing instruments for making stamp impressions, counterfeit stamps, and forgeries.