Mortgage Fraud
The anatomy of a stolen home — and how 3 suspects got caught
CBC News has learned exclusive details behind an alleged title fraud in January that led to 3 arrests. It began as a typical phone call for Niroosan (Niro) Vivekanantharajah — someone who found him on Google, asking for his help in closing a home...
Multi-layered door-to-door sales scam could cost you your home
"A person visits you and says you have won a class-action lawsuit regarding the installation of your equipment and the money can only be used toward renovations to your home" Ontario's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is shining a light on a multi-layered door-to-door sales...
Ontario regulator warns real estate agents to watch for signs of fraudulent home sales
The body that regulates Ontario's 100,000 real estate agents and brokers is urging them to be more vigilant when verifying the identity of a client, amid a wave of fraudulent home sales and mortgages in the Toronto area. The Real Estate Council of...
Title fraud on the rise, property owners need to protect themselves
It’s difficult to imagine someone could sell a home without the owner knowing – or that a purchase could be made under fraudulent terms without the buyer realizing – but situations like this are happening right now in Canada. The number of people whose homes are being...
6 plaintiffs from Toronto’s Chinese community accuse broker of mortgage fraud
It's been more than three years, but Yan Ting "Tina" Li says she still remembers meeting Po Yuk "Peggy" Chan at a Thanksgiving party. The 45-year-old mother of four says Chan struck her as compassionate and pious, and took an instant liking to her. "I thought she was...
How organized crime has mortgaged or sold at least 30 GTA homes without owners’ knowledge
Future of title insurance could be at risk if this real estate fraud trend continues. A year ago, Melissa Walsh says police assured her family it only happened to them. Fraudsters nearly sold her great uncle's east end Toronto home without the family's knowledge. "We...
How thieves stole a Toronto condo in ‘total title fraud’, selling it for $970,000
The professional photographs posted on a property tour website last year show Moffy Yu's condo in downtown Toronto, a light-filled two-bedroom home with floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping views from the tallest residential tower in Canada. Documents provided by...
Founders of mortgage investment firm Fortress Real Developments Inc. charged with fraud
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have charged two men with fraud in connection with a syndicated mortgages scheme involving Fortress Real Developments, following a years-long investigation. Jawad Rathore of Markham, Ont., and Vince Petrozza of Richmond Hill, Ont.,...
Canada-wide warrant for Toronto man in a $10M mortgage fraud investigation
A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for a man wanted in an investigation into alleged mortgage frauds valued at more than $10 million, Toronto police say. Multiple mortgage frauds have been reported to police. Investigators said they believe a...
Private Mortgage Broker “Lucas” wanted by Toronto Police for Fraud
On December 23, 2021, the Toronto Police issued a press release seeking the public’s assistance to identify a man posing as a private mortgage broker: http://torontopolice.on.ca/newsreleases/51793?s=09 If you have any information on this person, and you wish to...
Scammers used fake documents and real homes to scam renters
'There was no fanfare, no huge red flags,' says Ryan Planche of Barrie, Ont. Individuals trying to rent a place in Hay River, N.W.T., say they're being targeted by scammers using fake documents and real house listings to convince them to e-transfer hundreds of dollars...
Fraud charges laid over a year ago against Sarnia police officer has been cleared
Criminal charges laid over a year ago against a veteran Sarnia police officer have been dismissed. Jason Priddle, a 42-year-old first-class constable, was arrested and charged in late August 2020 with: uttering a forged document, forgery attempted fraud...
Mortgage fraud could rise with tighter lending rules, warns broker
Cases of mortgage fraud are likely to rise as new rules tighten borrowing requirements in Canada, says a mortgage broker.
Multiple companies and their owners charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and rig bids for condo refurbishment contracts in the GTA
The Competition Bureau announced that it has laid multiple criminal charges against four companies and three individuals in connection with an alleged conspiracy to commit fraud and rig bids for condominium refurbishment services in the Greater Toronto Area.
Two men arrested in unconnected mortgage fraud cases
Guelph (July 24, 2020) – The police arrested two men in two unconnected mortgage fraud cases. On July 20, Guelph police laid 31 charges against the former mortgage broker, Charn Ghuman, following an eight-years fraud investigation. The Guelph man allegedly collected...
Casting a light on elder financial abuse on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
June 15, 2020 – Elder abuse is a serious and growing problem. June 15 is the ‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day’, which provides an opportunity for communities to promote a better understanding of the abuse and threats that older persons are facing by raising awareness...
Mortgage broker charged in connection with financial elder abuse
Winnipeg (January 24, 2020) – The Manitoba Securities Commission (MSC) laid numerous charges against Manitoba mortgage broker, Bret Allan Dobbin, in connection with financial elder abuse. He is facing 18 counts in violation of The Securities Act and 36 counts in...
‘Victims of Syndicated Mortgage Investments’ fight back against regulator and the Law Society of Ontario
Toronto (September 16, 2019) – The collective ‘Victims of Syndicated Mortgage Investments’ (VOSMI) demand further investigations in the conduct of their lost syndicated mortgage investments. After, they were poorly informed about the potential risks that come with...
Almost a quarter of millennials think it’s okay to lie on mortgage applications, according to Equifax survey
Toronto (September 9, 2019) – The results of the most recent Equifax survey suggest that nearly a quarter of Canada’s millennials (23 per cent) think, it’s okay to lie about their income on mortgage appications. That is almost double the amount of the general...
Mortgage and vehicle sale fraud brings remorseful fraudster five-year prison term
Calgary (July 25, 2019) – Giovanni Bartolotti has been sentenced to five years imprisonment and to pay restitution of $161,665 for mortgage and vehicle sale fraud. Crown prosecutor Steven Johnston and defense counsel Peter Hoare offered a joint submission to the Court...
Alleged ‘shadow’ mortgage broker implicated in dozens of shady deals
Jan. 9, 2018 (courtesy of CBC.ca)- B.C. financial authorities have identified a woman accused of acting as a 'shadow' mortgage broker by feeding altered tax documents to licensed professionals on behalf of dozens of people who wouldn't otherwise qualify for loans. The...