LOTTERY SCAM: ‘Elderly victims’ in Canada targeted by fraudsters; 2 Mississauga women charged

Two Mississauga women face fraud charges and a third resident of the city is being hunted by police after “vulnerable elderly victims” in different parts of Canada were tricked into handing over tens of thousands of dollars to claim what they were told were big lottery wins.

One victim, who lives in Thunder Bay, Ont., was scammed out of $45,000 while a second person, an Alberta resident, was tricked on two occasions into sending fraudsters a total of $12,000, fraud investigators with Peel Regional Police said.

Two separate lottery scams that targeted “vulnerable elderly victims” from across Canada between 2019 and 2023 are at the heart of the investigation, police said in a news release on Monday.

Two Mississauga women were arrested and charged last November while an arrest warrant has been issued for a Mississauga man.

Fraud investigators said victims were “tricked into believing that they had won a lottery sweepstakes. Both of the victims were instructed to send funds to cover fees to collect their winnings. The victims were promised millions of dollars in cash prizes once the fees and taxes were paid.”

The first victim, police said, “was misled into sending over $45,000” to one of the scam artists.

The second victim sent more than $10,000 to one person and $2,000 to another, investigators said.

Arja Donaldson, 50, of Mississauga, is charged with fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime.

Latoya Hayden, 37, also of Mississauga, is charged with fraud over $5,000.

Both are scheduled to appear in Brampton court at a later date, police said.

Meanwhile, an arrest warrant has been issued for Andrew Baker, 31, of Mississauga. Police say they’ve been “actively looking” for him for several months.

He’s wanted on charges of possession of property obtained by crime.

Peel police fraud investigators said “our most vulnerable population are often targeted, manipulated and taken advantage of in many fraud-related schemes for the fraudster’s profit.”

They add scammers “will use any means necessary to convince you that their requests are legitimate. Protect yourself and always avoid sending money or personal information to someone you haven’t met.”

For more fraud prevention tips, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.

Anyone with information pertaining to this matter, including the location of Baker, is asked to call police at 905-453-3311, ext. 3335, or Peel Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.