Nigerian In Toronto Charged In Multi-million Dollar Fraud

Mon, March 10, 2008

T.O. man charged in multi-million dollar fraud
By Don Peat, SUN MEDIA

Edmund Ezemo is charged with 25 fraud-related offences and one count of illegal entry into Canada. (Toronto Police handout) 

Using any scam they could, a network of thieves bilked millions of dollars from Canadian companies before Toronto Police swooped in netting one man that had already been deported eight times and searching for others.

Police recovered about $700,000 worth of electronic equipment, high-end vehicles, fake cheques and doctored identity documents.

A 39-year-old Toronto man, deported eight times before last month's arrest, faces dozens of charges in connection with the fraud ring that spans from the Greater Toronto Area to Nigeria, police said today.

The accused and his accomplices used a fake business to set up accounts with a number of Canadian businesses, police allege. Merchandise was ordered and then paid for by certified cheques which were discovered to be counterfeit after the product was delivered.

Police also believe rental cars were also rented by various people and then placed in containers with the electronic equipment and shipped overseas.

Once the containers cleared customs, the rental cars were reported stolen, police said.

Also recovered in the investigation was $5.5 million worth of certified cheques which have not been negotiated, receipts and statements proving approximately $2 million worth of additional frauds to numerous companies across Canada, tens of thousands of dollars worth of wire transfer statements from Toronto to Nigeria, 30 fraudulent credit cards in various names, 20 fraudulent drivers' licences from various provinces, and the names, credit card numbers, and other personal information of approximately 1,000 potential victims of credit card fraud.

Police believe the accused may have been involved in numerous fraud-related offences in the Golden Horseshoe area and are seeking the public's assistance identifying possible offences related to him and his accomplices.

Edmund Ezemo is charged with 25 fraud-related offences and one count of illegal entry into Canada.