Mortgage Fraud
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...
Edmonton man charged in $5.5 million Ponzi scheme
July 24, 2018 (Courtesy of CBC.ca) - Edmonton police say they have uncovered a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme involving hundreds of fraudulent mortgage loans. Police allege Timothy Carruthers facilitated 257 fraudulent bridge mortgage loans worth a total of $5.5...
Allegations of inflated property values at centre of RCMP syndicated mortgage fraud investigation
July 19, 2018 (Courtesy of CBC.ca) -Inflated property values and the promotion of non-qualifying investments as being RRSP-eligible are some of the key allegations made by the RCMP in a search warrant application it filed to authorize an April raid on six Toronto-area...
Alberta RCMP lay charges in multimillion-dollar fraud case
May 29, 2018 (Courtesy of the Canadian Press) - RCMP have arrested and charged two people in a multi-million dollar fraud case involving hundreds of investors in Alberta. Investigators say two people in Calgary that operated a company called Base Finance Ltd. raised...
Mortgage firm that raised funds for Fortress halts operations: FMP advises clients it is surrendering brokerage licence after several developments that have had negative impact
April 27, 2018 ( Courtesy of Globeandmail.com) - A mortgage brokerage firm that raised millions from investors to finance projects for Fortress Real Developments Inc. has notified clients that it is going out of business. FMP Mortgage Investments Inc. sent a letter to...
Fortress used a third of investors’ money for commissions, fees, new documents show
April 24, 2018 (Courtesy of Globeandmail.com) - More than one-third of the money raised from investors to provide syndicated mortgage loans for Fortress Real Developments Inc.'s building projects was paid out as cash commissions to salespeople and as consulting fees...