Ontario couple charged in GTA real estate scam involving millions of dollars
Posted July 14, 2022 5:15 pm.
Last Updated July 14, 2022 5:18 pm.
An Ontario couple is facing charges related to an alleged real estate scam that spanned over two years across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Peel Regional Police say that between January 2019 and June 2021, they posed as realtors and committed fraudulent transactions in the millions of dollars.
Authorities say interested buyers would show interest in a property and provide advanced payments only to find out later that they were being defrauded as part of a financial scam.
A spokesperson for Peel police said that as a result of these incidents, victims “incurred a significant financial loss.”
On Wednesday, investigators arrested 77-year-old Kenneth Simpson and 57-year-old Courtney Wallis-Simpson of Uxbridge, Ont. on several charges, including theft of over $5,000.
Police say Kenneth Simpson faces 30 fraud-related charges, while Courtney Simpson has been charged with 84 similar offences.
The Uxbridge couple is slated to appear in court on September 12.
Authorities are concerned that the couple targeted more victims within the GTA, as the suspects have been known to operate and commit these crimes across southern Ontario.
“In many fraud-related cases, people in vulnerable situations are coerced, manipulated and taken advantage of for the profit of the fraudster,” a spokesperson with Peel police said as part of a news release.
