Senior victimized in $33,000 landscape fraud in Clarington

A man cited in five other jurisdictions on fraud charges and already on conditions not to accept payments for jobs in advance is wanted in Durham Region after allegedly befriending and then defrauding a senior out of $33,000 for landscaping and repair work.

Durham Regional Police have issued an arrest warrant for Christopher Alexander Graham, 40, after a 78-year-old victim paid $33,000 for work that police say was never started.

Police launched the investigation in May after learning that the suspect had befriended the victim over a period of a month and agreed to provide landscaping and repair services on the senior’s Clarington property. The suspect was paid but completed no work, police said.

Investigators believe the suspect specifically targets vulnerable and older individuals through a variety of fraudulent schemes and have concerns there may be other victims.

Graham, a Clarington resident, is wanted for fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime (over $5,000), two counts of breach of probation and fail to comply.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact D/Cst. March of the East Division Criminal Investigations Branch at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 1605.