Police make arrest in Milton ‘fake agent’ scam

A man from Milton is facing several charges after police allegedly seized 22 electronic devices believed to be valued at more than $36,000 in a so-called “fake agent” fraud.

Police say scammers, based in Milton, contacted victims while posing as employees or agents of telecommunications companies like Rogers, Bell, or Telus.

“Victims are manipulated into purchasing a new phone or other device through their existing account, often after being falsely told the device will be free,” Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) said in a news release.

“Once the victim receives the device, the scammer contacts them again, claims there was an error, and instructs them to return it to a PO Box controlled by the scammer. The devices are then shipped overseas and sold for profit.”

Investigators said, earlier this month, they were alerted to a number of fraudulent packages destined for a post office box in Milton.

The force’s Financial Crimes Unit conducted surveillance and arrested a suspect as he was picking up the packages on July 9, they said.

Adnan Asghar, 42, of Milton, has been charged with the fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and laundering proceeds of crime.

At the time of his arrest, the accused was allegedly in possession of 22 electronic devices, including iPhones, iPads and Samsung Galaxy phones.

‘Use extreme caution’: police

Police are reminding members of the public to “use extreme caution” if they receive unsolicited calls claiming to be from telecommunications providers.

They are also advising people to never ship newly purchased electronic devices to a third party.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with further information is asked to contact HRPS’s Financial Crimes Unit at 905-825-4747 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.