Pair of businesses defrauded of $200K, accountant charged: North Vancouver RCMP
A woman has been arrested for allegedly defrauding two businesses of approximately $200,000 while working as an accountant.
North Vancouver RCMP said in a news release Thursday that Squamish resident Allyson Steffensen was charged on Feb. 16 following a “lengthy and complex investigation.”
The investigation began back on July 13, 2019 when a business owner called the RCMP to report a fraud that they suspected was being committed by their accountant.
The offences reportedly took place between May 2018 and June 2019.
Over two years later, on Dec. 21, 2021, a second business owner called North Vancouver RCMP after suspecting their accountant of defrauding the business of a “large sum of money.”
"This was a technically complex investigation," said Cst. Mansoor Sahak in the release. "The length of time required to gather that evidence and present it to BC Prosecution Service offer an example of how complex fraud files can be."
Steffensen has been charged with four counts of fraud over $5,000 and four counts of theft over $5,000.
"Reducing frauds is a priority for us. We have specialized units who use advanced investigative techniques to target these offences. We rely on the community to call us when they feel something is not right," said Cst. Sahak.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Freeland leaves capital gains tax change out of coming budget implementation bill, here's why
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Ontario woman surprised after 20-year-old fines suddenly tank credit score
An Ontario woman says that she was shocked when provincial fines from 20 years ago suddenly tanked her credit score last week, but the situation may not be as unusual as it seems, according to at least one debt expert.
Anger can harm your blood vessel function, study shows
Stress and anger can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health, studies have shown. New research points to just how the mechanism may work.
A 98-year-old in Ukraine walked miles to safety from Russians, with slippers and a cane
A 98-year-old woman in Ukraine who escaped Russian-occupied territory by walking almost 10 kilometres (six miles) alone, wearing a pair of slippers and supported by a cane has been reunited with her family days after they were separated while fleeing to safety.
Will an 'out of sight, out of mind' cellphone policy make a difference in Ontario schools?
Ontario’s cellphone ban in schools has been met with mixed reaction, with some teachers concerned about constant policing of kids and experts applauding the change as necessary for student learning.
A Utah couple accidentally shipped their cat with an Amazon return. A week -- and 3 'miracles' -- later, they were on a plane to meet a stranger
The Amazon returns employee wasn't at work the day one of her colleagues at a California warehouse found a small, furry stowaway in a box mailed six days earlier from Utah. But Brandy Hunter got the call anyway.
Dueling protesters clash at UCLA hours after police clear pro-Palestinian demonstration at Columbia
Dueling groups of protesters clashed Wednesday at the University of California, Los Angeles, grappling in fistfights and shoving, kicking and using sticks to beat one another. Hours earlier, police burst into a building at Columbia University that pro-Palestinian protesters took over and broke up a demonstration that had paralyzed the school while inspiring others.
Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Avalanche eliminate Winnipeg Jets from playoffs with 6-3 road win
Mikko Rantanen's first two goals of the playoffs propelled the Colorado Avalanche to a 6-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday that clinched their opening-round playoff series in five games.