Oakville man charged after using fake magazine ads to solicit funds

A man from Oakville has been charged after he allegedly sold advertisements for a fraudulent magazine he claimed was distributed throughout the province for over 10 years.

Toronto police say that between April 2011 and May 2023 the accused solicited funds for a magazine called “Ontario Police Public Safety News”, contacting business owners to sell advertisements for the publication he claimed was sold throughout Ontario

The accused then claimed that the funds would be donated to free community programs and educational programs for children.

The magazine, however, was not widely distributed and the community programs that were claimed to be supported do not exist.

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Investigators say victims involved believed the accused was affiliated with police services due to the name of the magazine.

The magazine does have a website seemingly features letters from several Canadian politicians praising the publication. However, it remains unclear whether print issues were ever distributed.

Fifty-eight-year-old Azher Hyder of Oakville has now been arrested and charged with Fraud over $5000. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 10.

Investigators are appealing to anyone who believes they may have been a victim or has any further information in this case to contact police by calling 416-808-7300 or by email at projectdragnet@torontopolice.on.ca.

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