Town of Bancroft victim of fraud scam

By Sarah Vance

The Town of Bancroft may have fallen victim to fraud scams.

The Bancroft OPP has confirmed it is investigating as it was defrauded by an outside person. Despite having developed a risk intervention and mitigation strategy for addressing fraud, as part of its Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan, the town may have become a victim to the crimes the document is intended to deter.

On Oct. 17, acting Staff Sgt. Tim Spence — while confirming that a report has been filed — declined Bancroft This Week's request for additional information.

“The OPP did receive a report of fraud from the Municipality,” Spence confirmed via email. “The matter is currently under investigation and therefore we cannot comment on the specifics further at this time. When the investigation is completed the OPP may be able to provide you with further details,” Spence responded via email.

Fraud is the second of six risk factors listed in the Wellbeing plan, as a threat to property security.

CAO Hazel Lambe and Mayor Bernice Jenkins, have also declined comment.

“I regret to say that while any matter is under investigation I am not at liberty to comment,” stated Mayor Bernice Jenkins, in an email on Oct. 14. “The town has reported a matter to authorities and eventually when the investigations are completed and the matter resolved the town will be in a position to comment but not until that time.”

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, Section cc. 380. (1)(b), anyone who is found guilty of fraud under $5,000 is guilty of an indictable offence that is punishable by a term of imprisonment up to two years, or in less serious cases, by summary conviction.

Fraud over $5,000 carries a significantly greater risk of jail time, with maximum sentences sitting at 14 years.