Ontario man charged after N.S. resident loses $65,000 in investment scam: RCMP

Men entering credit card information using laptop computer keyboard. (File photo)

Lunenburg District RCMP has charged an Ontario man after a Hebbville, N.S., resident lost $65,000 in an investment scam.

Police received a report from the victim on Oct. 6, 2023. They told police they had invested more than $65,000 with what they believed to be a real U.K.-based company, according to a news release from RCMP.

The victim tried to buy Government of Canada savings bonds and sent wire transfers to bank accounts they were told were affiliated with the legitimate business.

The RCMP says officers learned there were multiple victims associated with the scam across the country.

“Victims were led to believe they would earn interest on their investments. When interest payments were not received, or when attempts to contact the fraudulent company representatives were unsuccessful, they contacted the legitimate company directly and learned they had been defrauded,” said the RCMP.

Police forwarded the complaints to the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region’s Integrated Market Enforcement Team (IMET) in Calgary, Alta., due to the volume of reports across Canada.

After a lengthy investigation, police say IMET identified a suspect connected to the Hebbville complaint and notified Lunenburg District RCMP.

John L. Marshall, 65, of Palgrave, Ont., has been charged with fraud. He’s set to appear in Bridgewater provincial court on June 17.

Cpl. Dominic Laflamme of the Lunenburg District RCMP says fraud investigations are often complex and can span multiple jurisdictions, making them challenging.

“That’s why it’s so important that victims report these incidents. This case demonstrates how information shared across jurisdictions can help police identify suspects and advance investigations,” said Laflamme.

Police urge anyone who suspects they’ve been targeted by a scam to contact their local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. Anonymous tips can be submitted online to Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers or by calling 1-800-222-8477.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page