TORONTO — A 38-year-old woman from the Philippines is facing 18 charges in relation to an alleged airline ticket scam targeting members of Toronto’s Filipino community that resulted in the loss of $150,000 from victims.
Police said the joint investigation with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario discovered that customers booked airline tickets through a woman whom they believed was authorized to sell them low-fare tickets to the Philippines.
The woman allegedly accepted cash and credit card payments but customers never received the ticket they paid for, according to police.
Police said customers then found unauthorized purchases on their credit card statements and estimate the total loss of money at about $150,000.
Lorna Natalie Arcega, 38, of the Philippines, was arrested in Toronto on Thursday and charged with:
- Four counts of fraud over $5,000.
- Two counts of fraud under $5,000.
- Two counts of utter forge document.
- Two counts of false pretence under $5,000.
- Four counts of false pretence over $5,000.
- Three counts of unauthorized use of credit card data.
- Possess proceeds of crime under $5,000.
Arcega is scheduled to appear in court at 2201 Finch Ave. West on Sept. 23 and police said charges were also laid by the TICO under the Travel Industry Act of Ontario.
Police said the suspect used different names and may also be known as Natalie. Investigators believe there may be other victims.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2433, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at http://www.222tips.com, or by texting TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).
- Man arrested after attempting to shoot pastor during livestream sermon
- Stormy Daniels testimony at Trump hush money trial sparks call for mistrial
- Strangulation often signals domestic violence will turn deadly. Montreal police stepping up enforcement
- Australian woman accused of poison mushroom murders pleads not guilty
Comments