Man charged after allegedly soliciting funds using fake Ontario magazine for more than a decade
A man in his 50s from Oakville, Ont. has been arrested and charged after allegedly selling advertisements and soliciting funds using a fake magazine for more than a decade.
Investigators allege that, between April 2011 and May 2023, an individual solicited funds for a fake publication, entitled ‘Ontario Police Public Safety News.’
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
They would tell business owners that the publication was widely distributed in Ontario in an effort to sell ad placements, investigators allege. The suspect also told individuals that funds would be donated to community and educational programs for children, they said.
“The magazine was not widely distributed,” TPS said in its release. “The community programs do not exist.”
Due to the name of the magazine, the victims involved believed the accused was affiliated with police services, it states.
A logo for the fake publication can be seen above. (TPS handout)
On Monday, Toronto police said 58-year-old Azher Hyder had been arrested and charged with one count of fraud over $5,000.
Hyder is scheduled to make his first appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on Nov. 10.
Police are asking anyone who believes they may have been an alleged victim of Hyder to contact them. TPS’ Financial Crime Unit also issued a reminder that police services do not solicit funds for any purpose.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trump picks former congressman Pete Hoekstra to be ambassador to Canada
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has nominated former diplomat and U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra to be the American ambassador to Canada.
Genetic evidence backs up COVID-19 origin theory that pandemic started in seafood market
A group of researchers say they have more evidence to suggest the COVID-19 pandemic started in a Chinese seafood market where it spread from infected animals to humans. The evidence is laid out in a recent study published in Cell, a scientific journal, nearly five years after the first known COVID-19 outbreak.
This is how much money you need to make to buy a house in Canada's largest cities
The average salary needed to buy a home keeps inching down in cities across Canada, according to the latest data.
'My two daughters were sleeping': London Ont. family in shock after their home riddled with gunfire
A London father and son they’re shocked and confused after their home was riddled with bullets while young children were sleeping inside.
Smuggler arrested with 300 tarantulas strapped to his body
Police in Peru have arrested a man caught trying to leave the country with 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes and nine bullet ants strapped to his body.
Boissonnault out of cabinet to 'focus on clearing the allegations,' Trudeau announces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced embattled minister Randy Boissonnault is out of cabinet.
Baby dies after being reported missing in midtown Toronto: police
A four-month-old baby is dead after what Toronto police are calling a “suspicious incident” at a Toronto Community Housing building in the city’s midtown area on Wednesday afternoon.
Sask. woman who refused to provide breath sample did not break the law, court finds
A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer's request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.
Parole board reverses decision and will allow families of Paul Bernardo's victims to attend upcoming parole hearing in person
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo will be allowed to attend the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) says.