Calgary police charge two men with fraud known as the ‘black money’ scam

The Calgary Police Service has charged two men in connection with a fraud known as the ‘black money’ scam.

In May 2011, two men attended Glenmore Sailboats in the northeast and identified themselves as political refugees from Sierra Leone. They stated they wanted to make a cash purchase of two sailboats totaling $100,000.

The same men attended the location several times in an attempt to build a rapport with the staff.

During one of these visits, the suspects presented what turned out to be a set up for the ‘black money scam’.

They stated they wanted to pay cash for the boats, but the only way they could bring money into Canada was if it was disguised as plain white or black paper. At this point, they presented a plain piece of paper and washed it with a chemical to demonstrate it transforming into a $50 note.

They said they would return with all the money disguised as plain notes. In ‘black money’ scams of this nature, the victim is normally left with a bundle of plain paper that does not wash as per the demonstration.

In this case, the staff at the store became suspicious and alerted police prior to an exchange taking place.

As a result of the investigation, two men have been arrested and charged.

Robert Seyboe GARWAI, 34, and, Ignatius Dweh TOPEY, 41, both from Montreal, have been charged with fraud over $5,000.