NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
*************************
Investigators with the York Regional Police Financial Crimes Unit have laid additional charges against a 39-year-old man 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, two suspects, using fraudulent identification, rented luxury houses from homeowners in the City of Markham and City of Richmond Hill. They then altered the interiors of the homes to allow multiple tenants and subleased the homes as rooming houses. In some cases, more than 20 people were residing in the homes and paying rent to the suspects. The homeowners did not receive any rental payments and had not been unable to evict the suspects or the occupants due to COVID-19 restrictions.
On June 22, 2020, two suspects were charged with Fraud over $5,000, Uttering Forged Documents, and Identity Fraud.
In February 2021, investigators received information that one of the suspects continued to rent luxury houses in York Region by showing fraudulent identification to the owners, only to convert the homes into subleased rental spaces for numerous people.
On Tuesday Oct. 5, 2021, the suspect was arrested and additional charges were laid. Investigators are encouraging homeowners to be aware of how their investment properties are being used when renting them out.
CHARGED:
- Arif Adnan Syed, 39, City of Markham
CHARGES:
- Fraud over $5,000 x3
- False Statement in Writing x3
- Uttering Forged Document x3
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime x3
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Financial Crimes Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6612, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
*************************
.png;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
