Toronto police are asking the public for help identifying a man wanted in connection with a fortune-telling scheme that allegedly defrauded a victim of roughly $800,000, according to CityNews Toronto.
The suspect is accused of posing as a psychic or fortune teller and convincing the victim to hand over large sums of money, police said. The alleged scam involved promises of “spiritual protection,” as reported by the Toronto Star. Authorities released an image of the man as part of an investigation into fraud exceeding $5,000, according to the Toronto Police Service.
CityNews Toronto reports the man is believed to have operated within the city of Toronto. The exact timeline of the alleged fraud and the relationship between the suspect and the victim have not been detailed in the available reporting. Police have not confirmed whether the suspect is a Canadian resident or a visitor, though CP24 described him as an Indian man in its coverage of the case.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information about the man’s identity or whereabouts to come forward. The case highlights a recurring pattern in which fraudsters exploit personal beliefs to extract money, often over extended periods, according to the reporting.
What to watch next: Police have not announced an arrest, so the next development will likely be a public tip leading to the suspect’s identification or a formal charge being laid.
