Two Toronto residents have been charged with defrauding hundreds of Canadians out of millions of dollars through an elaborate phone scam, as reported by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The suspects allegedly used technology to conceal their phone numbers, leading victims to believe they were communicating with legitimate entities such as banks, government agencies, or police departments.
Cybercrime investigators conducted a raid at the suspects’ residence, seizing numerous electronic devices. The RCMP has identified 570 victims to date and encourages others who may have been affected to come forward.
The accused, 29-year-old Chakib Mansouri and 31-year-old Majdouline Alouah, face multiple charges, including fraud, unauthorized use of a computer, laundering proceeds of crime, unauthorized possession of credit card data, and possession of the proceeds of crime.
Authorities believe Mansouri and Alouah were among the most active users of “iSpoof.cc,” a now-defunct website that enabled criminals to impersonate corporations by displaying fake caller IDs. This platform was previously dismantled in a global investigation led by the UK’s Metropolitan Police in 2022, which revealed that users had defrauded victims worldwide of over £100 million.
Both suspects are currently detained at Maplehurst and Vanier correctional facilities and are scheduled for a remote court appearance in Toronto on Friday.
According to Statistics Canada, more than 40,000 cybercrimes were reported between January and June 2024. Fraud constituted 56% of these incidents, highlighting the pervasive nature of such schemes.
The RCMP urges individuals to remain vigilant against unsolicited communications and to verify the authenticity of callers claiming to represent official organizations.