Facebook Marketplace gold scam in Brampton ends with arrest of man on bail

A Kitchener man who was  already facing fraud charges and out on judicial release has been arrested after Peel Regional Police linked him to two counterfeit cash scams involving thousands of dollars worth of precious metals, including one in Brampton.

Police say the investigation began after two separate online marketplace transactions in which sellers were allegedly paid with counterfeit $100 bills for gold and silver bars.

The first incident happened in January in Brampton, where investigators allege the suspect contacted a seller through Facebook Marketplace to purchase gold bars valued at about $8,500.

Police say the two parties met at a residence in the city, where the buyer handed over what appeared to be cash payment in $100 bills. While the seller was counting the money, the suspect allegedly grabbed the gold bars and fled.

The victim later discovered that $8,300 of the money was counterfeit.

A second incident allegedly occurred in March when another online seller agreed to sell gold and silver bars worth approximately $5,700. According to police, the victim later determined that $5,600 of the cash received during the transaction was also counterfeit.

Following an investigation by Peel Regional Police’s Fraud Bureau, assisted by officers from the 12 Division Compliance, Repeat Offenders and Warrants (CROW) Unit, Terran Miller, 24, of Kitchener, was arrested and charged with:

• Two counts of fraud over $5,000
• Two counts of possession of counterfeit currency
• Two counts of uttering counterfeit currency
• One count of failing to comply with a release order

Terran Miller has been charged

Police allege Miller was wanted by several law enforcement agencies across Ontario for similar offences at the time of his arrest. Investigators also say he was already on judicial release while facing multiple fraud-related charges before the courts, leading to the additional charge of failing to comply with a release order.

The case highlights what police describe as a growing problem involving fraud on online buy-and-sell platforms, where counterfeit cash is being used to target private sellers of high-value items such as gold and silver.

Peel police are reminding residents to take precautions when meeting strangers to complete marketplace transactions. Officers recommend using one of the Buy and Sell Safe Exchange Zones located outside every Peel police division, which are available around the clock for public transactions.

Police also advise sellers to carefully verify the authenticity of any cash before handing over merchandise, particularly during high-value sales.

Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact Peel Regional Police’s Fraud Bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 3335.