A Kitchener man has been arrested in connection with two separate incidents involving counterfeit currency used to purchase precious metals through online marketplaces.
In January, police allege the suspect arranged to buy gold bars valued at approximately $8,500 from a seller contacted through an online platform. The meeting took place at a residence in Brampton, where the accused handed over cash in $100 bills before seizing the gold and fleeing.
The seller later discovered that $8,300 of the cash was counterfeit. In a second incident in March, the accused allegedly purchased gold and silver bars worth about $5,700, with $5,600 of the payment later found to be fake.
Investigators identified and arrested 24-year-old Terran Miller. He faces two counts of fraud over $5,000, two counts of possession of counterfeit currency, two counts of uttering counterfeit currency, and one count of failing to comply with a release order.
At the time of his arrest, Miller was wanted by multiple Ontario law enforcement agencies for similar offences and was already under a judicial release for fraud-related charges.
Police report a notable rise in fraudulent transactions on online buy-and-sell platforms. The public is encouraged to use designated safe exchange zones available at police divisions, which operate 24 hours a day.
These locations are intended to provide a safer environment for conducting transactions with strangers. Individuals with relevant information are urged to contact the Fraud Bureau or Crime Stoppers.
