Project Haul, Burak Ozgan, 30, arrested on Fraud-related charges, Police concerned there may be other victims
Wednesday, May 31, 2017 – 10:38 AM
Financial Crimes
The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of an arrest in an investigation into alleged Frauds involving moving companies.
In April 2017, investigators with the Toronto Strategic Partnership started an investigation named Project Haul. It involved allegations of fraudulent and extortionate conduct by a group of Toronto-based companies offering moving services to customers across Canada.
It is alleged that:
– a number of people presented themselves as employees of companies operating under the names “Green Moving” and “Ryder Moving” from the Toronto area
– these people defrauded several people
– they provided quotes for moving services that they had no intention of honouring
– they provided false evidence of grossly exaggerated load weights as a ruse for fraudulently increasing costs to their victims
– they held victims’ property in storage outside of their province of residence to be used as leverage, and threatened to destroy it if extortionate fees were not paid in advance, in order for the victims to receive their belongings
– they used aliases and multiple company names in order to mask the identities of scheme participants and make recovery difficult for victims
On Wednesday, May 17, 2017, investigators from the Toronto Police Service, RCMP, and the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, executed a Criminal Code Search warrant at a business address associated to Green Moving, in Scarborough, Ontario.
Investigators located and seized property belonging to two families that are alleged to have been victimized in the fashion described. Both families had moved from Alberta to Eastern Canada.
On May 24, 2017, Burak Ozgan, 30, of Toronto, was arrested. He has been charged with:
1) two counts of Fraud Over $5000
2) two counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
3) Extortion
He is scheduled to appear in court at 1911 Eglinton Avenue East on Tuesday, July 4, 2017, 10 a.m., courtroom 407.
While the accused is alleged to have played a significant role in the offences, investigators believe he did not act alone. Police continue to search for other suspects.
On Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., Acting Inspector Ian Nichol held a news conference. It can be seen here.
Police are concerned there may be other victims who reside predominantly outside Ontario.
People with recent dealings involving companies operating under the names “Green Moving,” “Ryder Moving,” “Landmark Van Lines,” or “Capital Moving Services,” are encouraged to contact Toronto Police Service Financial Crimes at 416-808-7300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
Residents of all provinces are reminded to understand their rights under provincial legislation within their own province and to take precautions when contemplating the use of any company providing moving services.
Related information can be found on the Service Ontario webpage: https://www.ontario.ca/page/
Further information can be located on the federal Office of Consumer Affairs webpage:
https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/
The Toronto Strategic Partnership is a collaboration of the Toronto Police Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Competition Bureau of Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, the Ontario Ministry of Finance, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.