Moving scam victims out thousands of dollars as police search for third suspect
Toronto police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a third suspect wanted in connection with a moving scam that costed customers thousands of dollars.
Police said they have already arrested two men in connection with the scam after executing warrants in the Bellamy Road and Progress Avenue area.
Police allege the two men were operating several budget-moving companies under various names, and that customers were provided with a low-cost contract for moving their belongings.
Once the items were loaded onto a track, the men would allegedly contact the customers making a demand for more money. The customers would be forced to pay the inflated prices, which police say were in the thousands of dollars.
Police said that customers who were unable to pay had their belongings held in an undisclosed warehouse and were charged storage fees.
The scammers allegedly operated the businesses under various names, including 12282569 Canada Inc., O'Canada Movers, Roadway Moving and Storage Inc., Safebound Moving and Storage Inc., Canadian Principle Movers, All You Can Move, Right on Track Moving, New Vision Moving, and Greenway Moving.
Police said two 30-year-olds both of Toronto were charged with four counts of false pretence, four counts of fraud over $5,000, four counts of mischief over $5,000, four counts of possession of property obtained by crime and conspiracy to commit indictable offence.
The charges have not been proven in court.
Investigators said Monday they have identified another person wanted in connection with the scam, a 27-year-old woman named Amethyst Jones of Toronto.
Police said they are asking for the public’s assistance in finding her. She is described as five-foot-eight-inches in height, weighing 175 pounds, with a medium-dark complexion, and long dark braided hair with blonde highlights.
Officers said they have recovered a substantial amount of personal items believed to be from victims.
“It will take some time to sort through them and return them to their owners,” police said in a news release. “Victims can claim these items by contacting investigators at 416-808-4100.”
Anyone with information related to the incidents is also asked to contact police at 416-808-4100 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.