January 30, (THEWILL) – Two Nigerian nationals in Canada, Gbemisola Akinrinade (a resident of Brampton) and Adebowale Adiatu (a resident of Vaughan) have been charged by the Canadian Police authority for alleged airline ticket fraud.
A statement by Canadian Peel Regional Police said the suspects allegedly presented themselves as working for travel agencies based in the United Kingdom, to secure access to an online booking portal that belonged to a major European airline between June 2021 and December 2021.
The Police said both suspects fraudulently sold genuine flight tickets to unsuspecting customers and collected the payments to their financial advantage.
“Over 250 airline tickets were criminally issued and sold at over $500,000. The majority of the customers that bought the tickets were from the Calgary area and the flights were to Africa”, Peel Regional Police 21 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau, alleged, adding that it charged Adiatu and issued a warrant for Akinrinade.
“32-year-old Adebowale Adiatu faces the following charges: Fraud over $5,000, Possession of property obtained by crime, Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
“44-year-old Gbemisola Akinrinade faces the following charges: Obtain by false pretence, Unlawful use of a computer, Fraud over $5,000, Possession of property obtained by crime, Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, Fraud under $5,000″, the statement added
The police advised individuals to properly source the website they are dealing with and verify its legitimacy.
“Anyone who recognises or has information about this type of case is asked to contact the 21 Division C.I.B or Fraud Bureau at (905) 453–2121, ext. 2133 or 3335 or to your local police service. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting peelcrimestoppers”, the Police urged.
