Capital city defrauded out of more than half a million dollars, police investigating

OTTAWA – Police are investigating an illegal transaction that saw Canada’s capital city defrauded out of more than half a million dollars.

A memo to the city’s council shows staff found an irregularity on April 11 related to a $558,000 payment from the city to a partner agency.

Staff later confirmed the city was a victim of an “illegal action” perpetrated against a partnering agency.

The payment has been reported to Ottawa police, the local auditor general and the city’s financial institution.

The bank is working to retrieve the funds while the city and the police investigate.

The city says no personal information was compromised.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2022.