Brampton Man Sentenced to 3 ½ Years in Prison for Job Opportunity Scam

TORONTO, October 1, 2009 — The Competition Bureau announced today that Lookman Temidayo Adegbola of Brampton, Ontario, has been sentenced to 3 ½ years in prison for operating an employment opportunity scam involving counterfeit cheques.

In addition to the sentence, Justice C. William Hourigan of the Ontario Superior Court imposed a restitution order of $26,000. The judge noted that Mr. Adegbola used legitimate business names in the scheme, damaging the reputation of their businesses.

"Employment opportunity scams are a serious problem across North America," said Melanie Aitken, Commissioner of Competition. "The Bureau will continue to pursue those who prey on unsuspecting and vulnerable victims, such as individuals anxious to find work."

In May 2009, the Brampton man was found guilty by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice of a number of offences, following a Bureau investigation that led to his arrest on August 22, 2007. The scam resulted in hundreds of U.S. victims wiring money to Canada in the belief that they had been hired to work as secret shoppers. Secret shoppers are hired by businesses to test the service they offer to the public.

The investigation into the scam was launched after the Bureau received a number of complaints from victims in the United States who reported individual losses ranging from US$2,400 to US$9,000. More information related to the trial can be found on the Bureau’s Web site in a news release dated May 22, 2009.

During its investigation, the Bureau received assistance from the Toronto Strategic Partnership. Formed to combat cross-border mass marketing fraud, the Partnership consists of the Competition Bureau, the Toronto Police Service Mass Marketing Fraud Unit, the OPP Anti-Rackets Branch, the RCMP–GTA Commercial Crime Section, the Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services, the Canadian Anti-fraud Call Centre (PhoneBusters), the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.K. Office of Fair Trading.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that contributes to the prosperity of Canadians by protecting and promoting competitive markets and enabling informed consumer choice.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Gabrielle Tassé
A/Senior Communications Advisor
Public Affairs Branch
819-953-7734

For general enquiries, please contact:
Information Centre
Competition Bureau
819-997-4282
Toll free: 1-800-348-5358
TTY (hearing impaired): 1-800-642-3844