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FROM: SOUTHERN GEORGIAN BAY DETACHMENT DATE: JULY 30, 2024

(Edited Date) SOUTHERN GEORIAN BAY OPP SEARCHING FOR MISSING ELDERLY MALE FROM MIDLAND

(MIDLAND, ON) - Members of the Southern Georgian Bay detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are asking the public and our media partners for assistance in locating a male to confirm his well being.

The missing male is Eric and is 86 years of age. He is described as a white male, thin build with white hair and a white mustache. (see attached photo)

He was last seen leaving his residence on Pillsbury Drive, Midland on foot at 10 a.m., July 30, 2024. He did not return from his outing at the expected time and police were notified around 12:30 p.m.

Please note that there is currently a heavy police presence in the area of the Trans Canada Trail leading east from Midland to Orillia as officers search the area.

Investigators are asking that anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of this missing person to contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122.



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-UPDATE #1 - OPP HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION IN MIDLAND
Media Release

Southern Georgian Bay OPP is sharing the following information of an ongoing Scam/Fraud investigation for community awareness.

The CAFC is pleased to share the success of Operation Jackal III which we contributed to. This type of success highlights the importance of reporting fraud to law enforcement and the CAFC.

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) is pleased to announce its participation in INTERPOL OPERATION JACKAL III, a global law enforcement operation targeting transnational fraud associated with West African organized crime groups.

As noted in a news release issued by INTERPOL on July 16, 2024, the operation focused on online financial fraud and the West African syndicates behind it. The TPS Financial Crimes Unit hosted INTERPOL's Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC) post-operational meeting for JACKAL III at Toronto Police Headquarters on July 2, 2024, with law enforcement representatives from 21 countries across five continents in attendance.

“In Canada, these crime groups are responsible for various cyber-related frauds that often target vulnerable and elderly victims," said Detective Sergeant Anthony Coscarella of the Toronto Police Service Financial Crimes Unit. “Whether it's a romance, investment, or other advance fee scam, the victims of these crimes have suffered significant financial losses."

In late 2023, the Financial Crimes Unit began investigating a cyber-related romance fraud linked to West African crime groups targeting elderly victims on various social media platforms.

In July 2024, the Financial Crimes Unit executed search warrants as part of a Theft of Mail and Fraud investigation. Suspects were found to have stolen business cheques and other financial documents from Canada Post mailboxes in the GTA and across southern Ontario in order to commit identity theft and other frauds. Several of these frauds have been linked to West African crime groups, including Black Axe.

To date, police have arrested seven suspects from the Toronto area for receiving and moving illicit funds taken from victims, with losses exceeding $1.3 million.

“TPS remains committed to protecting our communities from financial crimes and bringing those responsible to justice," said Detective Sergeant Coscarella. “Our collaboration with INTERPOL and our international and national partners is crucial in tackling these sophisticated criminal networks."
Investigations by TPS related to OPERATION JACKAL III are ongoing, and the names of those arrested will not be released at this time.

The Toronto Police Service would like to thank our partners in the Toronto Strategic Partnership, including the Ministry of Finance Ontario, Canada Post Security & Investigation Services, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) also assisted with the investigation.
For media interviews, please contact CorpComm@TPS.ca. Detective David Coffey will be available today from 11am – 2pm.

Full news release: https://www.tps.ca/media-centre/news-releases/60337/

Thank you,
CAFC Team
partners@antifraudcentre.ca
Fraud: Recognize. Reject. Report.
#kNOwFraud

Follow us on Twitter (@canantifraud) and Facebook (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre)
Bonjour,

Le CAFC est heureux de partager le succès de l'opération Jackal III à laquelle on a contribué. Ce type de succès souligne l'importance de signaler les fraudes au CAFC.

Le Service de police de Toronto a le plaisir d'annoncer sa participation à l'opération INTERPOL JACKAL III, une opération mondiale d'application de la loi visant l'escroquerie transnationale associée aux groupes criminels organisés d'Afrique de l'Ouest.

Comme l'indique un communiqué de presse publié par INTERPOL le 16 juillet 2024, l'opération s'est concentrée sur la fraude financière en ligne et les syndicats ouest-africains qui en sont à l'origine. Le 2 juillet 2024, le service de lutte contre la criminalité financière du SPT a accueilli au siège de la police de Toronto la réunion post-opérationnelle du Centre INTERPOL de lutte contre la criminalité financière et la corruption (IFCACC) concernant JACKAL III, à laquelle ont participé des représentants des services chargés de l'application de la loi de 21 pays répartis sur les cinq continents.

« Au Canada, ces groupes criminels sont responsables de diverses fraudes cybernétiques qui visent souvent des victimes vulnérables et âgées », a déclaré le sergent-détective Anthony Coscarella, de l'unité de lutte contre la criminalité financière du service de police de Toronto. « Qu'il s'agisse d'une escroquerie à l'amour, à l'investissement ou à l'avance, les victimes de ces crimes ont subi d'importantes pertes financières.

En 2023, l'Unité des crimes financiers a commencé à enquêter sur une fraude à l'idylle cybernétique liée à des groupes criminels d'Afrique de l'Ouest ciblant des victimes âgées sur diverses plates-formes de médias sociaux.

En juillet 2024, l'unité des crimes financiers a exécuté des mandats de perquisition dans le cadre d'une enquête sur le vol de courrier et la fraude. On a découvert que les suspects avaient volé des chèques d'entreprise et d'autres documents financiers dans les boîtes aux lettres de Postes Canada dans la région de Toronto et dans le sud de l'Ontario afin de commettre des vols d'identité et d'autres fraudes.

Plusieurs de ces fraudes ont été liées à des groupes criminels d'Afrique de l'Ouest, dont Black Axe.

À ce jour, la police a arrêté sept suspects de la région de Toronto pour avoir reçu et déplacé des fonds illicites prélevés sur les victimes, avec des pertes dépassant 1,3 million de dollars.

« Le SPT reste déterminé à protéger nos communautés contre les délits financiers et à traduire les responsables en justice », a déclaré le sergent-détective Coscarella. « Notre collaboration avec INTERPOL et nos partenaires nationaux et internationaux est essentielle pour lutter contre ces réseaux criminels sophistiqués.

Les enquêtes menées par le SPT dans le cadre de l'OPERATION JACKAL III se poursuivent et les noms des personnes arrêtées ne seront pas divulgués pour l'instant.

Le service de police de Toronto souhaite remercier ses partenaires du Partenariat stratégique de Toronto, notamment le ministère des Finances de l'Ontario, les services de sécurité et d'enquête de Postes Canada, le service d'inspection postale des États-Unis et le Centre antifraude du Canada (CAFC). L'Agence des services frontaliers du Canada (ASFC) et le Centre d'analyse des opérations et déclarations financières du Canada (CANAFE) ont également contribué à l'enquête.

Pour les interviews des médias, veuillez contacter CorpComm@TPS.ca. Le détective David Coffey sera disponible aujourd'hui de 11h à 14h.

Pour lire le communiqué de presse, visitez : https://www.tps.ca/media-centre/news-releases/60337/

SOUTHERN GEORGIAN BAY OPP DETACHMENT JULY 17, 2024

With great pleasure officers attended Tim Hortons stores in Midland and the surrounding area and gave their support to help send a kid to camp on the annual Camp Day event.
Thanks to those who donated to this community event.

FROM/DE: Anti-Rackets Branch DATE: July 2, 2024

FRAUDSTERS IMPERSONATING THE CANADIAN ANTI-FRAUD CENTRE

(OTTAWA, ON) - The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are warning Canadians about the increasing threat of fraudsters impersonating the CAFC and police services. Sometimes, fraudsters are claiming to assist the CAFC with an ongoing investigation using their letterhead and logo as part of the fraud or in other cases, they spoof police phone numbers. The three most common impersonation scams to look out for include:

Bank investigator

The fraudster claims to be from the bank, a major credit card provider or, in some cases, from businesses such as Amazon. They say there are unauthorized charges on your account or that your account is compromised. At times, the fraudster demands that you provide your credit card information and that you send money for reimbursement fees or as bait money to help catch a bad employee.

In order to convince the victim that it's a legitimate investigation, fraudsters send a fraudulent letter via email which may include the CAFC's logo. The letter will advise that the CAFC is investigating and that you, the victim, must cooperate in order to "catch" the suspect. Fraudulent contact information (phone number and email address) is provided so that you communicate with them.

Tech support

The fraudster claims a virus infected your computer. Fraudsters state that your computer is sending out viruses or has been hacked and must be serviced. They request access to your computer and may run programs or alter settings. Fraudsters will claim that they have found fraudulent activity on your computer and an investigation is required. Victims are contacted by:

· Alarming website pop-ups that demand you call a number urgently

· Unsolicited telephone calls (they may claim to be a Microsoft or other well-known computer company employee)

Fraudsters send a fraudulent letter via email which may include the CAFC's logo. The letter will advise that the CAFC is investigating and that you, the victim, must cooperate in order to "catch" the suspect. Fraudulent contact information (phone number and email address) is provided for you to communicate with them.

Recovery pitch

If you have been a victim of a fraud, you may be targeted again with a promise to get your money back. Fraudsters will claim to be from a government agency or law enforcement and ask for your help with a "sting" operation to take down scammers who stole your money.

To convince you that these are legitimate investigations, or that they have found fraudulent activity on your computer, fraudsters send a letter by email which may include the CAFC's logo. The letter will advise that the CAFC is investigating and that you must cooperate to "catch" the suspect. They will provide fraudulent contact information (phone number and email address) for you to communicate with them. They will claim that a payment is required to assist with the investigation and will promise to return the funds, but they never will.

Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of the or any fraud is urged to contact their local police, the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca. You can also report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. For resources on scams and fraud, visit antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.

· CAFC X and Facebook

· OPP X, Facebook, and Instagram

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Contact Information

John Armit

Acting Detective Sergeant

Anti-Rackets Branch (ARB)

Ontario Provincial Police

John.armit@opp.ca