Two Brampton residents are facing serious charges after Ontario Provincial Police say a reported armed carjacking north of Brampton turned out to be an elaborate fraud.
The incident happened around 10 p.m. on September 18, when officers responded to a call near Old School Road and Mississauga Road in Caledon. The caller told police they had been in a collision and were approached by two suspects — one allegedly armed with a handgun — who then stole their vehicle.
However, investigators later discovered that no carjacking had actually occurred. Instead, the situation was part of what police describe as a “complex fraud scheme,” marking at least the fourth fake carjacking in the area this year.
Following the investigation, the OPP charged Raji Sharma, 38, and Meeraj Tandon, 40, both from Brampton, with public mischief and fraud over $5,000. The accused are set to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice at a later date.
This case adds to a growing list of similar incidents in Caledon, including a previous staged gunpoint carjacking that resulted in charges against five suspects from Brampton and Caledon.
Police are warning the public that filing false reports not only diverts critical emergency resources but also carries significant legal consequences.