Police say a 52-year-old convicted fraudster from Vaughan, Ont., known affectionately as “Dr. Love,” has been charged after a Toronto woman was defrauded of $10,000 in an international scheme that may have also targeted charities across North America.
A 44-year-old woman told police she was defrauded of thousands of dollars between November 2014 and February 2015 after sending the money to Japan.
Police said Charles “Dr. Love” Olutu had worked with people overseas to receive the funds from the woman and then launder them to avoid detection.
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Olutu was arrested Wednesday and charged with laundering the proceeds of crime and possession of instruments of forgery, after police said he was found with items used to create forged documents.
He appeared in a Toronto court Thursday and police said they are concerned there may be other alleged victims.
Det.-Const. Michael Kelly of the Toronto police Financial Crimes Unit said Olutu had recently served 27 months in prison in the U.S. on wire fraud and money laundering related charges.
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Police said the most recent charges are part of a larger investigation and that charities across North America may have been targeted in recent weeks with counterfeit cheques.
Anyone, including organizations, having had dealings with Olutu or people using the names Tatsuji Ota and Kiyoshi Junji is asked to contact police at 416-808-7300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).