Woman arrested for CERB fraud

A woman has been accused of abusing the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) by travelling from Montreal to Toronto to open multiple bank accounts through which she could fraudulently receive the benefit, according to CP24.

The CERB package is offered to Canadians who have lost their job or cannot work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The woman travelled to Toronto from Montreal for the sole purpose of fraudulently making CERB applications by opening up various bank accounts,” members of the Toronto Police Service said in a news release issued on Friday.

“The Toronto Police Service are reminding the public and financial institutions to be vigilant at all times, and to report all suspected fraudulent account openings to police,” officers also stated in the news release.

The 40-year-old woman who has been identified as Karina Riel, would make the journey from Quebec to Ontario with "the intention to apply for CERB", according to investigators. Riel now faces four criminal charges, including fraud under $5,000 and impersonation. Police also seized “counterfeit identification from the woman.”

Police say the investigation remains "ongoing", and ask that anyone with information come forward and contact officers at 416-808-5200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477 (TIPS).