A Sarnia business owner is out nearly $120,000 after falling for an elaborate online scam involving a fake supplier of rare equipment, and police have now charged one Toronto man while searching for a second suspect. The Sarnia Police Service announced the charges on June 18, 2026, following a months-long investigation that stretched from Sarnia to Toronto.
The victim contacted police on January 27, 2026, to report the fraud, but the scheme began back in October 2025. According to the Sarnia Police Service, the business owner was asked by another company with which they had done business before to supply a piece of equipment they didn’t have in stock. They searched online and found what looked like the only supplier of the rare item, complete with a professional website. The victim sent three money transfers totalling $119,475 before realizing the purchase order, website, and equipment were all fake.
Investigators found that the bank accounts receiving the money were opened with fake identities and fraudulent identification, with account activity traced to a specific part of Toronto. On June 16, 2026, Sarnia police officers, with help from the Toronto Police Service and Canada Border Services Agency, searched a residence in Toronto. Inside, they found two suspects and seized $44,880 in Canadian cash, $10,000 in U.S. cash, 46 bank cards, eight cell phones, two laptops, an iPad, jewelry, luxury watches, and a briefcase full of fraudulent documents.
A 34-year-old Toronto man was arrested at the scene and now faces charges of fraud over $5,000, possessing property obtained by crime over $5,000, and obstructing a peace officer. Police have also asked for a warrant to arrest a 29-year-old Toronto man on the same charges, but he remains at large. Officers believe the pair may have been running similar scams in other areas, so evidence will be shared with other police forces.
The Sarnia Police Service is warning other business owners to be extra careful when sourcing products online, especially rare or hard-to-find items. Investigators say the website used in this scam appeared completely legitimate, showing just how convincing these schemes can be.
