Police charge third suspect in Toronto moving scam
Toronto police have charged a third suspect wanted in a moving scam, after two men were arrested in the case last week.
Police allege that two men were operating several budget moving companies under different names.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Customers were provided a low-cost contract for moving their belongings and once the items were loaded onto a truck, the men would contact the customers and make a demand for more money, police said.
Customers were then forced to pay inflated prices in the thousands of dollars to receive their items, according to police. If they couldn’t pay, police said their items were held in an undisclosed warehouse, while incurring storage fees.
READ MORE: Moving scam victims out thousands of dollars as police search for third suspect
On June 24, police executed search warrants in the area of Bellamy Road and Progress Avenue and as a result arrested two men.
Toronto residents Cemal Ozturk and Dogan Celik, both 30 years old, face a charge of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and four counts each of false pretense, fraud over $5,000, mischief over $5,000, and possession of property obtained by crime.
Dogan Celik and Cemal Ozturk are seen in this undated image. (Toronto Police Service)
On Wednesday, police said they charged another suspect believed to be involved in the scam.
Twenty-seven-year-old Amethyst Jones, of Toronto, turned herself into police and faces the same charges laid against Ozturk and Celik.
“As part of this investigation, officers 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. Victims can claim these items by contacting investigators at 416-808-4100,” police said in a news release.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact police at 416-808-4100, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.