The EPS issued a news release seeking complainants who may have been have been victimized by this scam on July 18, 2019, and since then, five additional complainants have contacted police. Investigators believe the five new complainants were allegedly defrauded approximately $12,570.
Chandra Vinesh Singh, 23, is charged with fraud under $5000 (x6), false pretenses under $5000 (x6), using a forged document (x3) and forgery (x3).
Singh was arrested yesterday, August 26, 2019 without incident and is expected to appear in court on September 23, 2019.
Background
In April of 2018, it was reported that Singh contacted several people via Facebook claiming he was employed by either the Edmonton Oilers Entertainment Group or Pro Am Sports and was selling autographed Connor McDavid jerseys. Investigators believe Singh successfully sold two fraudulently autographed jerseys to a citizen for $1,400.
Several months later, in February 2019, it was reported that Singh proposed an "investment opportunity" to an individual via Facebook, which again involved Oilers jerseys that Singh falsely claimed were signed by Connor McDavid. Singh also allegedly used fraudulent documents to support his claims. The individual was allegedly defrauded $23,000.
At that time, Singh was charged with possession of a forged document (x2), fraud over $5,000, fraud under $5,000.