Ontario residents charged in alleged passport renewal fraud
Ontario passport fraud charges tied to fake online government services See how the bureau says ads misled customers and what the allegations mean
Two Ontario residents have been charged after a Competition Bureau investigation alleged they misled people into believing they were dealing directly with the federal passport service.
York Regional Police say John Jesse Breslin and Phoebe Hui Ting Wong were charged last week with fraud over $5,000 and possession of proceeds of crime.
According to the bureau, the business names Passport Online and Passport Express used ads that suggested customers could apply for or renew passports online through the service. The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 2016 and 2020, and the charges have not been proven in court.