Three Charged For Canadian Immigration Scam In Peel Mississauga

Four women are facing fraud charges in connection with an alleged large immigration sponsorship scam in Peel region in which dozens of people from the Middle East were targeted.

So far, according to Peel Regional Police, 38 people have come forward and investigators allege the group bilked residents out of nearly $800,000.

Police say in July 2017, a complainant contacted police to report that they paid large sums of money to the Afghan Refugee Relief (ARR) organization to assist in sponsoring family members wishing to immigrate to Canada from Afghanistan.

The head of the company accepted money but never processed the paperwork through the Canada Border Services Agency and Citizenship and Immigration Canada, police said.

After a significant delay and once the victims learned that their paperwork was never processed, the president “refused to reimburse” the funds paid for the service, police said.

On October 20, 2017, investigators sought the public’s help in identifying further victims in relation to ARR organization and as a result, 38 people contacted police.

Victims consisted of individuals from the Middle East, Europe, and North America, with eight victims in the Region of Peel. Investigators estimate that the total amount defrauded is approximately $780,000.00.

As a result of an extensive investigation, on February 8 investigators from the Fraud Bureau executed three search warrants at three separate residences, two in the Region of Peel, and one in the City of Bradford.

Sakia Mojadiddi, 61, a Mississauga woman who allegedly heads the ARR, Morassa Rizvi, 32, of Brampton, Dunya Mojadiddi, 26, of Mississauga, and Mariam Qureshi, 36, of Bradford, have been charged with defrauding the public, conspiracy to defraud the public and possession of proceeds of crime.