Investigation into $230K phishing scam results in four more arrests

Fingers type on a computer keyboard in North Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday, December, 19, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Ontario Provincial Police say four more people have been charged in connection to a phishing scam that resulted in a Centre Wellington business losing $230,000.

The unnamed business reported the theft to police in February 2024.

According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, a phishing scam begins with an email, text, social media post or voice message that appears to come from a recognizable or trusted company, such as a bank, business or government agency. These messages are designed to trick the recipient by imitating a legitimate company or encouraging them to click on a link, download an attachment or fill out an online form. When the recipient clicks the malicious link or download, their computer is infected with a virus or malware.

OPP did not share any specifics of the scam.

In October 2024, officers arrested Tochi Nwachukwu, 31, in Toronto. He was charged with fraud over $5,000, theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, two counts of forgery, two counts of failing to comply with a probation order, disobeying a court order and laundering the proceeds of crime.

Four more people were arrested in January 2025.

Centre Wellington OPP said Ifeanyi Okolo, a 31-year-old from Kitchener, Cornelius Etah, a 39-year-old from Ajax, and Hamid Oki, a 28-year-old from Toronto, were all charged with fraud over $5,000, theft over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Olabamiji Omoniyi, a 35-year-old of North York, was also charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, personation with intent to obtain property (identity fraud), as well as use, deals and acts on a forged document.

OPP are encouraging anyone with information on this investigation to contact the Wellington County detachment at 1-888-310-1122 or their local police department. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at ontariocrimestoppers.ca.