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Toronto Police Service
Con
Man Operating Business From the DON JAIL
March 9, 2005 --
Toronto, ON - The
Toronto Strategic Partnership has arrested a con man operating
a Business Directory Scam targeting US based Businesses, while
in custody in the Don Jail.
The
Toronto Strategic Partnership is a multi-law enforcement agency
set up to combat Deceptive Telemarketing. It includes the
Toronto Police Service Fraud Squad, the Ontario Provincial
Police Anti-Rackets, Phonebusters, York Regional Police Service,
Royal Canadian Mounted Police-GTA Commercial Crime Section,
Ministry of Consumer and Business Services, Competition Bureau,
US Postal Inspection Services and the Federal Trade Commission.
The
accused, while in custody at the Don Jail on unrelated charges,
was involved in an elaborate Directory Scheme where he began
setting up a Business Online Directory web site that solicited
US Businesses to pay for a service that was never ordered
or requested. With the use of a Government Web site he placed
Job Ads and hired call agents to work from their homes. The
employees were employed to make calls to US Businesses and
solicit renewals, again for services that were never fulfilled.
Employees sent out invoices on overdue accounts for services
that were never requested.
Many
of the US Companies had no knowledge of this service until
they received invoices and collection calls requesting payment
for the service which ranged from $500.00 (USD) or $650.00(CDN).
Several
complaints were reported to the National Call Centre in Canada
(Phone Busters) and to their local police agencies. Most of
the complaints were from employees that had worked for Patrons
OnLine that were never paid for their work or reimbursed for
their equipment.
As
a result Dickson Motsewetsho (alias Ify Moham) has been arrested
and charged with Two Counts of Fraud Over $5,000.00 and Fail
to Comply with Probation. He will appear in College Park Court
later today for his first appearance.
The
investigation in ongoing and additional charges are pending.
For
further information on this investigation, contact Detective
Inspector Tony Crawford, TPS Fraud Squad at 416-808-7300 or
Detective Sergeant Joe Zwambag, OPP Anti-Rackets Section at
416-808-7325.
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