NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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Investigators with the York Regional Police Financial Crimes Unit have charged two people in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation involving housing rentals.
In April 2020, York Regional Police began an investigation after receiving information about a suspect in possession of fake identification documents. Through the investigation, officers determined that from December 2019 to June 2020, luxury rental houses in the City of Markham and City of Richmond Hill had been rented out using fraudulent identification.
The properties had been sub-leased as rooming houses and in some cases more than 20 people were residing in the homes and paying rent to the suspects. The homeowners did not receive any rent payments and had been unable to evict the suspects or the occupants due to COVID-19 restrictions.
On June 22, 2020, the suspects were both arrested and are now facing charges.
Charged:
• Arif Adnan Syed, 37, City of Markham
• Hafsa Naseer , 25, City of Mississauga
Charges:
• Fraud over $5,000
• Uttering forged document x2
• Identity fraud x2
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Financial Crimes Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 2486, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips or leave an anonymous tip online.
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