In the fall of 2021, the Toronto Police Service received a romance cryptocurrency fraud complaint after a Toronto area resident was defrauded of over $355,000 in cryptocurrency.
Over the course of three years, members of Toronto Police from the Coordinated Cyber Centre (C3), 51 Division Fraud Unit, and Financial Crimes Asset Forfeiture Unit worked closely with the Ontario Provincial Police’s Anti-Rackets Branch, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s (RCMP) International Liaison Officers located in Nigeria, and with Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
As a result of the collaborative efforts between these units, in December of 2024, Toronto Police was able to return $225,000 to the victim.
It is alleged that the victim began communicating with an individual named “Moshe Theodor McNigh” on Facebook in June of 2021. The suspect befriended the victim, who was encouraged to invest in cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) through Legacyfxtraders.online (Legacy).
In the fall of 2021, Nigerian law enforcement officials contacted the victim, confirming that the victim was defrauded in a cryptocurrency investment scheme, losing an estimated $355,000 in Canadian funds.
The EFCC had arrested and charged Omonkhoa Precious Afure of Nigeria.
Nigerian officials subsequently seized the proceeds of the crime, and recently, the Nigerian court determined that the proceeds were the victim’s assets. The Nigerian court ordered the proceeds to be restituted to the victim.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), in 2023, victims reported losing over $52.5 million to romance frauds and over $309 million to investment frauds. It is estimated that only five to 10 per cent of victims report their frauds to the CAFC or law enforcement.
In addition, victims wishing to report their frauds to Nigerian authorities can do so via the Eagle Eye reporting application from around the world to assist in combating Cyber-Enabled frauds, said the police.
“If you have been a victim of fraud or suspect fraudulent activity, immediately report it to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501, or online via the Fraud Reporting System,” the police explained. “Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2222, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.”
