Oromocto , New Brunswick – Two men have been charged following an investigation into a financial fraud phone scheme in the Oromocto and Fredericton regions, N.B.
On August 23, 2022, police received a report from an individual who had received a phone call from a man claiming to be a police officer who had a family member in custody. A large sum of money was demanded to have the family member released from jail. A short time later, a man arrived at the individual’s home to collect the money. Over the following days, the New Brunswick RCMP and Fredericton Police Force received numerous reports of similar incidents.
On August 25, the Oromocto RCMP received a tip from a member of the public regarding the same phone scheme. Based on the information received and through a collaborative investigation with Fredericton Police Force, Oromocto RCMP arrested a 30-year-old man, and a 20-year-old man, both from Montreal, in Oromocto.
On August 26, Saleh Abdalla Saleh Mohamed and Manasseh Kebede appeared in Fredericton Provincial Court by way of tele-remand, and were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud over $5000.
Both men were remanded into custody and are scheduled to return to court on August 29 at 1:30 p.m.
“Be cautious of any call you receive from a number you do not recognize, especially if you are being asked for a large sum of money,” says Cpl. Hans Ouellette, of the New Brunswick RCMP. “This type of scam often targets senior citizens that have limited access to the internet or who don’t use social media, and preys on the fear of a loved one being hurt or in trouble.”
You can help your family members by sharing the following tips and information:
If you receive one of these calls, do not provide confidential personal or financial information over the phone or online.
Hang up the phone immediately if you believe a scammer is calling you.
Call a family member or the police agency using a phone number from a reputable source – not one provided by the suspected fraudster – so you can verify whether a request is real and what you need to do.
Report the call to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. If you have been a victim of fraud, also contact your local police and your financial institution.
“It’s important to keep family members informed about scams so that they don’t become a victim,” says Cpl. Hans Ouellette. “We also want to advise the public that the Canadian Criminal Justice System does not allow for someone to be bailed out of jail with cash or money.”
For further information on the types of frauds and scams that are currently circulating, and on how to best protect yourself, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.
The investigation is ongoing.
New Brunswick RCMP
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