A ruse concocted by a Central Saanich, B.C. woman helped police catch a man who allegedly bilked her out of almost $35,000 and was wanted for fraud in four provinces.
Mohammed Ali Assaf, who has been wanted by police for years, was finally arrested in Calgary on May 26, thanks to a 29-year-old mother of two. The woman bought movie tickets for Assaf and then tipped off police so they could arrest him right in his seat.
The woman first met Assaf in October on the dating website Plenty of Fish. After a few months of talking, Assaf, who was living in Calgary, sent the woman a message saying he had prostate cancer.
The woman flew to Calgary to visit him, and told police that Assaf began talking about ways they could make some fast cash.
The woman gave him $35,000 to follow through on some investments that he told her about.
She later found out that the man she was dating was a scammer and contacted police.
Assaf is wanted for fraud-related charges in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Halifax. He is facing 17 charges in Calgary, including fraud, using a forged document, possession of items through proceeds of crime, theft of a credit card, and theft of a vehicle.
Read more at Times Colonist
