Mounties have charged one person following an investigation into an international phone scam involving seniors.
In December, the RCMP Greater Toronto Area Transnational Serious and Organized Crime unit received information from the RCMP in Prince Edward Island.
A Canadian senior had reported being scammed out of more than $20,000, according to a news release from the RCMP.
“The scammers were posing as representatives from “Readers Digest” or “Publishers Clearing House” telling “winners” they had won a car or a cash prize, but would have to pay a small fee in order to cover taxes, legal fees or delivery fees,” said the release.
Mounties said they also investigated the use of a “money mule,” a person who serves as a middle person to transfer stolen money. In this instance, the victim’s money was sent to an account in Jamaica.
A 31-year-old non-resident currently living in Toronto is charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of proceeds of crime, and laundering of the proceeds of crime.
Phylecca Smith was released by the courts after a bail hearing on July 27 but remained in custody on an immigration hold by the Canada Border Services Agency due to her non-status in Canada.
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