According to Toronto police, the incidents took place over a period of about 10 months, between April 2021 and February 2022.
During this time, a man contacted victims in Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace and Snapchat and agreed to buy various items, such as designer shoes and clothes.
Police say the man would meet the victims and pay for the items using fraudulent checks filed via mobile banking.
“The checks would be more than the items purchased, with the result that the victims would pass the difference back to the man,” police said in a press release issued in February.
The checks were later put on hold and found to be counterfeit. However, police say that by the time this process was completed, the man would have already fled with the goods and money.
Police say they arrested a suspect June 27 in connection with the investigation.
Toronto resident Tyrese Campbell-Fraser has been charged with 97 counts of fraud, including five counts of fraud over $ 5,000, 29 counts of fraud under $ 5,000, 30 counts of inciting another to act on a forged document, four counts of theft under from $ 5,000 extorting threats and 27 charges for non-compliance with the suspension.
The charges have not been proven in court.
Police also released a picture of Campbell-Fraser as investigators believe there may be more casualties.
He has been described as standing about six feet tall, weighing about 180 pounds, with braided hair and fading on the sides and a black beard.
Police say he has a “Heaven Fraser” tattoo on his right forearm and a “514” tattoo on his left forearm.
Anyone with information is required to contact the police or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.
