Edmonton police are warning local businesses to be cautious as they search for a man charged in connection with nearly 100 fraudulent cellphone contracts. The accused, Quoc-Tuan Huynh, 37, also known as "Jimmy," is alleged to have orchestrated a scam targeting cellphone retailers across Alberta and British Columbia.
Investigation Details
Police began investigating in January after receiving reports that a Chestermere man had been defrauding cellphone retailers. According to a Thursday news release from the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), the suspect posed as the owner or representative of a small business, using forged business documents to open accounts with Telus or Bell Canada. He would then obtain new cellphones on credit from the false business and never pay off the debt.
Scope of the Fraud
EPS investigators say the man opened 70 small business accounts and obtained 143 new Apple phones across 97 separate incidents, with a total value of $255,496. "Due to the volume and value of phones that were fraudulently obtained, and the fact that this fraud is affecting small local cellphone retailers, we are warning the public about this prolific scam," said Staff Sgt. Marc Dehid with the EPS virtual investigations section.
Charges Laid
Huynh has been charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000 and two counts of uttering a forged document. Police believe he may have targeted other businesses and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Advice for Business Owners
"We want to warn business owners to be on the lookout for the accused, and to make sure they're verifying customer identification according to their anti-fraud policies," Dehid said. The EPS recommends that retailers implement strict verification procedures and report any suspicious activity.
How to Protect Your Business
- Always verify customer identification and business documents thoroughly.
- Train staff to recognize forged documents and suspicious behavior.
- Report any fraudulent attempts to local authorities immediately.
This case highlights the importance of vigilance in preventing fraud that can harm small businesses. The EPS continues to investigate and encourages anyone with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers.
