Police operation “SHARP” led to the dismantling of a network linked to the Italian mafia which perpetrated “grandparent” type frauds for more than two million dollars.
The investigation was led jointly by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), but also brought together the efforts of nine other police forces.
They arrested 14 people in Montreal who caused 126 victims across the country, the majority of whom are residents of Ontario, it was announced Thursday at a joint PPO-SQ press conference from Scarborough, Ontario.
“It is an unacceptable crime which attacks vulnerable people,” denounced Benoît Dubé, the deputy director general for criminal investigations at the SQ.
The suspects aged 25 to 36 operated according to the following modus operandi: they contacted elders who have landline telephone lines and posed as a relative, a police officer, a lawyer or even a judge. They would tell their victim that their grandchild was in trouble, most often being told that he had been arrested and that money was needed to get him out on bail.
In most cases, the fraudsters used “money mules” (unsuspecting couriers) to recover the money. The fraudsters urged their victims not to discuss the matter with other people, making them believe that a “silence order” was in effect.
Seniors have lost all of their savings, in addition to experiencing psychological and financial distress due to the criminal actions of fraudsters.
“They’re dealing with shame and humiliation,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Marty Kearns.
The police investigation began in 2022 and culminated on April 16 with the arrest of 14 suspects who face 56 charges including fraud, extortion, participation in a criminal group and also having falsely claimed to be a police officer.
Many cases of fraud are not reported to police, the OPP reported. However, the police force reports that $560,000 was recovered.
Criminal proceedings for the 14 accused will take place in Ottawa.