Brampton man charged in connection to romance scam investigation

Halton police have laid charges against a Brampton man as part of a romance scam investigation involving multiple victims.

Detectives began a fraud investigation in January involving the theft of cheques from a business in Burlington.

They say the stolen cheques were then deposited into a fraudulent bank account while the cheque was on their way to their intended destinations.

Investigators then uncovered a large-scale online romance scam, which involved the same suspect, who used various online dating platforms.

Police say they have identified three victims in Canada and one victim in the United States.

Officers allege that the suspect would receive e-transfers and cheques of various amounts from his victims, and deposit them into accounts under the name and alias “Donald Duke.”

The suspect would then make cash withdrawals from different ATMs while wearing face coverings as a disguise, and fraudulently obtained the money.

Police located and arrested 49-year-old Osarumwense Irabor of Brampton Tuesday following months of investigation to confirm his identity.

A search warrant was executed at a home in Brampton, where fraudulent documents and other items of evidentiary value were found.

Irabor has been charged with offences including fraud over $5,000, laundering proceeds of crime and possessing property obtained by crime over $5,000.

He has been released on an Undertaking with a future court date in Milton.

Investigators say the estimated current losses to known victims to be over $250,000 and there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward.

Detectives believe Irabor used aliases: “Donald Duke”, “Nathan Douglas” and “Peter Anderson”.

Anyone with information who may have been victimized are asked to contact Det. Const. Matt Ren of the Financial Crimes Unit at 905-825-4777 ext. 8734.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.

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