Durham Regional Police say eight people have been charged and five others are still wanted in a long-running fraud investigation involving more than $3 million allegedly stolen from an Ontario cleaning company.
Durham Regional Police say eight people have been charged and five additional suspects remain outstanding in a fraud investigation involving more than $3 million allegedly diverted from an Ontario cleaning business.
According to police, the case centres on a 54-year-old woman employed as an operations manager who allegedly orchestrated a complex internal fraud scheme within a commercial cleaning company. The investigation began after a corporate restructuring at a ServiceMaster location in Durham revealed financial irregularities.
Police say the company conducted an internal audit and contacted investigators in November 2021. The alleged fraud involved the diversion of employee wages, the redirection of payroll funds to other individuals, including family members, and the submission of fraudulent subcontractor invoices for work that was never performed.
Investigators say the scheme may have continued for more than 15 years. However, due to limited documentation, police were only able to review financial records from January 2015 to October 2021. During that six-year period alone, losses to the company are believed to exceed $3 million.
A forensic audit reportedly identified about 270 fraudulent cheques issued to eight subcontractor companies and deposited into 22 bank accounts. Police also allege the investigation uncovered extensive money laundering activity involving cheque-cashing businesses, multiple financial institutions, and the movement of funds across Ontario and internationally.
Eight people have been arrested and charged in connection with the case. Police say five additional suspects are still wanted as the investigation continues.
