A 27 year-old male from Winnipeg is facing charges following the attempted fraud and extortion of a 73 year-old female.
On February 26, 2025 police received a report of a banking scam. The female victim stated she was on her computer earlier that morning (February 26, 2025) when it stopped working. A notification popped up asking her to contact “Microsoft” and to call the number on the screen. The victim dialed the number and was told by the scammer that her computer, cell phone, land line and bank account had been hacked.
She was then put in contact with someone whom she was told was an employee at her banking institution. That person told her that all of the money in her bank account would be sent to Russia if she did not withdraw it. They also told her that if she told anyone about what they had asked her to do she would be charged with money laundering and arrested. They then arranged to come pick up the withdrawn money from the victim’s home later that evening.
The victim withdrew as much money as she could from her account, but became fearful and suspicious. She reported the incident to police and noted the time that the suspect would be coming to pick up the money from her home. Officers were on hand when the suspect arrived at the pre-arranged time. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. A search subsequent to the arrest revealed credit cards that did not belong to the suspect.
As a result of this investigation, 27 year-old Pardeep Singh DHALIWAL is charged with:
- Fraud Over $5,000 [CC 380(1)(A)];
- Extortion [CC 346(1.1(B)];and
- 2 x Possession of Credit Card [CC 342(1)(C)].
DHALIWAL made his first appearance on these charges in Regina Provincial Court on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
