A Toronto man has been arrested and faces multiple charges connection with a moving scam.
On Sunday (July 13), Peterborough County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a call from a person moving to Peterborough who was in the process of being asked to pay more money by a mover they had hired.
The complainant advised police they had hired a mover who had quoted a low price to move them from Vaughan to Peterborough. The complainant was following the moving truck when it pulled over and the driver demanded more money before completing the delivery. The complainant told the mover they needed to contact their bank, but instead called the OPP.
Peterborough County OPP officers arrived on the scene and blocked the moving truck from being able to drive off. Officers spoke with the driver who was arrested shortly after. After the moving truck was taken to to the complainant’s residence to be offloaded, the vehicle was impounded by police.
Police arrested and charged 40-year-old Brandon Daniels of Toronto with fraud under $5,000, failure to have an insurance card, failure to carry a commercial vehicle operator’s registration (CVOR) or lease, failure to accurately complete a daily inspection report, failure to ensure the daily inspection report is accurately completed, failure to surrender a permit for a motor vehicle, driving a motor vehicle with no currently validated commercial vehicle permit, operating an unsafe commercial vehicle, and driving a motor vehicle with cannabis readily available.
The accused man is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough on August 19.
The Peterborough County OPP is reminding that these types of scams happen on a regular basis and can be avoided by following these simple tips. If it sounds too good to be true, chances are it is. Do your research before agreeing to hire a contractor and read any fine print in any contracts. If you have concerns that it might be a scam, call your local police service.
The OPP urge residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious offers or suspicious contractor activity.
f you believe you have been targeted by a scam, contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
