Police have charged an Ottawa man with a list of charges “following an investigation into multiple allegations of immigration fraud.”
In a social-media release, the Ottawa Police Service said the investigation was launched in September 2024 following several incidents that allegedly occurred between January and July 2024.
The suspect, identified as Vinay Pal Singh Brar, 35, of Ottawa, was charged with: two counts of fraud over $5,000; two counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000; assault; assault by choking; and uttering threats.
The suspect has allegedly operated under aliases including Gagandeep Singh, Warisdeep Singh, Waris Singh, Waris Deep Sehmi and Harsh Harsh, the release said.
Police said the suspect allegedly posed as an immigration consultant and defrauded multiple individuals
Investigators said in the release they believed there may be additional victims across Canada, including in the Greater Toronto Area, Calgary, Vancouver and Surrey, B.C.
Anyone with information or who believes they may have been a victim was asked to contact Det. Michael Pelletier of the Ottawa Police Service West Division criminal investigations unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 2653.
Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or online crimestoppers.ca .
Police also reminded the public to be careful when dealing with immigration matters. Before accepting help from anyone offering immigration services, ensure the federal or provincial government properly licenses them. Checking their credentials can protect you from fraud and ensure you’re getting advice from someone who’s qualified.
Our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark our homepage and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed.
