SEVERN BRIDGE PAIR CHARGED WITH FRAUD AFTER HUNTVSILLE COUPLE INVESTED $680,000 IN FAKE GIC ACCOUNT

HUNTSVILLE — Two Severn Bridge residents face charges involving a $680,000 fake GIC investment.

OPP in Huntsville charged the pair in relation to an investigation just over a month before Christmas.

On November 18, 2023, members of the Huntsville Detachment along with Muskoka Crime Unit and Anti-Rackets Branch of the OPP commenced a fraud investigation after a Huntsville couple invested approximately $680,000 in what they believed to be a legitimate institution, identified as Alterna Bank.

Upon further investigation, it was determined that the account was not associated to Alterna Bank and that the representatives were utilizing aliases.

Alterna Bank is a Canadian direct bank and subsidiary of the Ontario-based credit union Alterna Savings. The bank offers chequing and high-interest savings accounts and mortgage.

As a result of the investigation, two individuals have been charged under the Criminal Code (CC) with the following offences:

Valerie Gillette, 38, of Severn Bridge, has been charged with:

  • Possession of Property obtained by crime over $5000

Christopher Gillette, 39, of Severn Bridge, has been charged with:

  • Possession of Property obtained by crime over $5000

Both are to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge on March 19, 2024.

Police offer these warning signs about how to protect yourself against fraud:

  • Prior to investing, ask for information on the investment. Research the team behind the offering and analyze the feasibility of the project.
  • Some fraudsters will use the name of legitimate companies to lend credibility to the fraud and convince victims to send money. Verify email addresses, URL’s, phone numbers and their physical address.
  • Verify if the investment companies are registered with your Provincial Securities Regulator or the National Registration Search Tool (www.aretheyregistered.ca).
  • If you receive a suspicious or odd investment related message from a trusted friend, reach out to them through a different means of communication to confirm that it is them.
  • Learn more tips and tricksfor protecting yourself.

Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of cybercrime or fraud should report it to their local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. If not a victim, report it to the CAFC anyway.

The CAFC is updating the fraud and cybercrime reporting statistics available on the Open Government Portal. Check out the portal today to see statistics up to June 30, 2023.

The Huntsville couple thought they were investing in a legitimate bank account, which turned out not to be.