Fake job scam leads to charges for Ontario man

An Ontario man faces charges in connection with a fake job scam.

The incident started after a Niagara Region resident reported a fake online job posting in January, Niagara Regional Police said.

The resident applied for a job online and was quickly offered the position after a brief one-minute interview, police said.

Police said that following the offer, the “company” asked the victim to buy computer equipment with company funds. The victim received a digital image of a cheque via the online banking app and was directed to deposit the cheque into her account, police said.

The company then said there was an overpayment and asked the resident to return $2,000 via e-transfer, police said.

Trusting the process, the victim completed the e-transfer, only to later learn from her bank that the cheque was fraudulent, police said.

Police charged one man in connection to the fraud on Feb. 20.

Sunday Kehinde, 24, of St. Catharines was charged with fraud under $5,000, and laundering the proceeds of crime.

Kehinde was held in custody pending a bail hearing that was expected to take place on Feb. 21 at the Robert S.K Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines.

Anyone with information should contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext.1022200.

Lead photo: energepic.com