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.
