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November 18, 2016 - 1:58 PM
KELOWNA – A group of five fraud artists are under arrest after scamming businesses out thousands of dollars worth of goods.
RCMP say the three men and two women from Montreal, Que. are facing a host of criminal charges after fraudulently buying merchandise in Kelowna.
The scammers arrived in the city from Quebec at the end of October, but possibly left for the Lower Mainland after a few days, before returning on Nov. 10, according to a RCMP media release.
The “fraudster group” fraudulently purchased about $20,000 worth of goods and services from liquor, clothing, electronics and specialty stores, along with hotels and rental car agencies. Police aren't saying anything about the nature of the fraud or how the goods and services were paid for.
RCMP caught up with the suspects in a pair of rooms at a local motel.
“RCMP coordinated the safe arrest of all five suspects, one of which was stopped in a rental vehicle observed leaving the motel parking lot,” Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says in the release. “Search warrants were obtained and police have seized a significant amount of suspected stolen property from the hotel rooms and their rental vehicle.”
Police have the three men and two women — who range in age from 18 to 22 — in custody as officers from the Economic Crime Unit “gather and analyze evidence.”
Anyone with any additional information is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP Economic Crime Unit at 250-762-3300. Remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net or by texting your tip to CRIMES (274637) ktown.
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