Quebec man charged with 11 counts of fraud in B.C.'s Lower Mainland
A Quebec man is facing 11 counts of fraud connected to incidents across B.C.'s Lower Mainland, Surrey Mounties say.
Florian Dinca, 44, was charged with two counts of fraud and nine counts of fraud over $5,000 following a months-long investigation.
Surrey Mounties said they first got complaints in January from three people saying they became victims of fraud while trying to sell items online. Victims reported they were shown an envelope full of money when they first met the buyer, but later discovered it wasn't the agreed-upon payment.
While investigating these incidents, Mounties discovered similar reports in Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, West Vancouver and Maple Ridge and were able to identify a suspect. Then, while preparing its report to Crown counsel, Toronto Police Service informed Surrey RCMP the suspect they'd identified was arrested on April 8.
Envelope swap
Last month, police in Toronto said they arrested and charged Dinca with fraud over $5,000 after he allegedly swapped an envelope full of cash with one filled with paper during a Facebook Marketplace transaction.
In that instance, police said the accused used the alias "Danny" on the social media platform's buying and selling site, where he reached out to the victim expressing interest in buying some of the items they posted for sale.
He allegedly handed the victim an envelope with cash and received the items that were for sale.
Police said that during that exchange, the accused swapped the envelope with the cash payment for another that contained only paper. The victim didn't realize the envelope had no money inside of it until after the accused left.
Surrey Mounties haven't confirmed the suspect used the same tactics in the Lower Mainland, only saying victims discovered they didn't receive the correct payment.
Back in Surrey custody
Surrey RCMP said they wrapped up their report to Crown counsel "on an urgent basis," allowing a Canada-wide warrant to be issued "with transport custody to Surrey."
Mounties said Dinca remains in pre-trial custody and has a court appearance scheduled for Friday.
"This was a complex investigation which included multiple jurisdictions," Cpl. Sarbjit Sangha said in a news release. "The primary investigator's dedication and investigative skills were paramount in identifying the suspect."
Anyone who thinks they've been a victim of fraud should contact their local police.
With files from CTV News Toronto's Alex Arsenych
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.