A man from northern Saskatchewan has been charged with money laundering after police uncovered a “boss email” scam.
Investigators with the RCMP organized crime branch said a man went to La Ronge RCMP at the end of July to report suspicious money transfers to his bank account.
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He also told police his account had been frozen by his bank due to the suspicious transactions.
Police were able to determine that online fraudsters had posed as an executive from a Montreal company in a scheme known as the “boss email” or “CEO” scam.
The fraudsters told the company’s finance department to wire money to the Saskatchewan man, who they had recruited online to launder the money.
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According to investigators, he was given instructions on where to forward the money and how much to keep for himself.
Two wire transfers totaling $70,500 were then sent to his bank account.
Approximately $55,000 of the funds were recovered by the bank and returned to the Montreal business.
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Joseph Lavallee, 60, of Timber Bay, Sask., has been charged with money laundering and possession of the proceeds of crime.
He is scheduled to appear in Prince Albert provincial court on Sept. 26.
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