NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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In early November of 2022, detectives from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Central Fraud Unit began an investigation into a grandparent scam that occurred in Lincoln.
The investigation revealed that a male victim in his 80s had been targeted by scammers. The scammers randomly called the victim and convinced him that a family member was in legal peril, and Canadian currency was required to secure their release from custody. The female suspect attended the victim’s residence on three different occasions to collect Canadian currency totalling $28,500. The female suspect is believed to have arrived and departed in a grey 2006 Honda Civic.
As a result of the investigation detectives were able to identify the suspect. On Nov. 17 2022, Dominique Theresa Alexander-Connell (22 years) of Brampton was arrested by detectives. Alexander-Connell has been charged with the Criminal Code offences of:
- fraud over $5,000 – S. 380(1)(a)
- possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 – S. 355(a)
Alexander-Connell was held in custody for a video bail hearing which occurred on Nov. 18, 2022. She was released from custody at that time with a future court date of Dec. 16, 2022, at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines.
The investigation by detectives remains ongoing as there is a belief there are more victims. Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact detectives by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009487.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
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