Toronto man arrested for allegedly scamming woman into handing $7,500 to bail out grandson
A Toronto man has been arrested for allegedly defrauding an elderly woman out of thousands of dollars by claiming that her grandson needed bail.
Toronto police said they responded to a call for fraud in the area of Grenadier Road and Roncesvalles Avenue on Thursday afternoon.
Police learned that the day before, the victim got a call from two people – a man posing as her grandson and another who identified as a police officer.
The latter told the woman that her grandson needed $7,500 for bail and that a bondsman would come to her home to pick up the money.
Police said the woman was told not to alert anyone because it would compromise her grandson’s release. Later that day, a man attended her address and collected the money.
The next day, the woman was contacted by the person identifying as an officer, demanding an additional bail payment of $7,500 and that the same man would pick it up, police said.
The woman became suspicious and contacted police. When the man came by to obtain the money, police arrested him.
On Saturday, police said the suspect, Diego Armando Lillo, had been charged with two counts of impersonating a peace officer, two counts of fraud over $7,500, one count of assault with intent to resist arrest and failure to comply with a release order.
Police also released a photo of him as they believe there may be more victims, urging them to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1100 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or www.222tips.com.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.