Charges laid in fraud case that saw scammer visit victim’s home in PEC
Charges have been laid by members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Prince Edward County (PEC) Detachment Crime Unit in connection with a scam that saw a fraudster attend the home of a victim who had been informed they had won the lottery.
On Aug. 21, 2023, OPP received a report of this scam, which saw the victim lose over $100,000. As previously reported, the suspect was believed to have attended the victim’s house to “assist in the transactions,” the PEC OPP said at the time of the incident.
As the investigation into the incident continued, police executed a search warrant on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, and arrested one individual, according to the OPP.
Oraine Williamson, age 39, from Etobicoke, has been charged with the following offences:
- Criminal harassment — threatening conduct
- Theft over $5,000
- Fraud over $5,000
- Mischief to computer data
In a press release issued on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, the OPP said Williamson individual was held for a bail hearing before the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville, which took place on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. Williamson was released on conditions with a future court date, Acting Sgt. Aaron Miller, Media Coordinator for the OPP East Region, said in response to media inquries.
Miller further detailed that the search warrant execution leading to Williamson’s arrest took place in Etobicoke.
The PEC OPP have dealt with a number of scams throughout 2023, resulting in well over $15,000 in financial losses for PEC residents, as reported by Kingstonist in late September.
“The OPP is fully committed to public safety and encourages anyone who has lost money because of a fraud is encouraged to report it to police at 1-888-310-1122,” police stated.