A Ghanaian man is accused of selling boxes of rice that he passed off as new iPhones recently in Rexdale, Toronto.
Toronto Police claim at least two unsuspecting victims have been duped by the scam that offered iPhones for sale on Kijiji.
The first alleged victim, a 20-year-old man, made contact with the seller online and made arrangements to meet near Islington Ave. and Dixon Rd. on Jan. 17, Const. Caroline de Kloet said Saturday.
“A cash transaction was made for what was believed to be an iPhone 6 in a sealed box,” she said. “The man later opened the sealed box which contained rice and no iPhone 6.”
The second alleged victim, a 27-year-old man, contacted the seller online and made arrangements to meet near Albion Rd. and Kipling Ave.
“A cash transaction was made for what was believed to be an iPhone 6 in a sealed box,” de Kloet said, adding the man later opened the sealed box and discovered it was also filled with rice.
Gyimah Andrews Boateng, 21, of Toronto, was arrested on Wednesday.
He’s charged with two counts each of fraud under $5,000, two counts of false pretence under $5,000 and breach of court order.
“Police believe there may be other victims,” de Kloet said.
Anyone with information regarding this fraud investigation should contact Det.-Const. Sylwia Swider at 416-808-2329 or [email protected], or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).