Alert Bay RCMP said they have helped prevent the loss of tens of thousands of dollars intended for a new Wellness and Treatment Centre for the ’Namgis First Nation.
Police said the First Nation reported being defrauded of about $406,000 on May 13 after a fraudulent email redirected a contractor payment to a fake bank account.
RCMP said frontline officers quickly froze a significant amount of the money in a bank account linked to an organized crime group in Eastern Canada.
Alert Bay RCMP executed a search warrant at a home in Aurora, Ont., where investigators recovered forged documents, multiple electronic devices and what police described as suspected counterfeit currency.
RCMP said the frozen funds will now be returned to the ’Namgis First Nation through court processes.
“While these incidents are concerning, investigators have reasons to believe this was not random, but rather targeted incidents,” said Corporal Alex Bérubé, spokesperson for the RCMP in B.C. “Police are actively exploring every possible avenue to gather all the necessary evidence to locate and arrest the suspect(s). Public safety is a priority and we are asking the public to assist us in our investigation to identify any suspect in order to prevent further similar incidents.”
Police are reminding organizations to verify payment instructions through secure channels as the investigation continues.
