One conversation, months of trust, and $1.3 million gone—Orillia’s latest cyber crime case is a gut punch to anyone who thinks it couldn’t happen here.
The story began with a phone call to Harry Little, an 85-year-old retiree in Orillia, alerting him to supposed computer troubles. Soon, the benign warning twisted into a sophisticated online scam promising lucrative cryptocurrency investments. The caller, using the name Rick Jamieson, built a rapport with Harry, nudging him toward repeated transactions under the guise of safeguarding his digital assets—and ultimately, growing his savings.
Between last July and December, Harry quietly transferred $1.3 million—his and his wife’s life savings—out of their CIBC accounts in increments of $50,000. Not only did he act against his financial planner’s advice, but he kept Peggy, his wife of many years and a former bank secretary, in the dark. The transfers, processed at their local bank branch, drew no questions from staff, nor did anyone reach out to Peggy or their family. By the time Harry realized the so-called investment was a mirage, the couple’s finances had been wiped out.
What followed was a scramble for answers. The Littles discovered that the “Newton Crypto Currency” in Toronto was little more than a post office box. Attempts to contact the company led to dead phone lines and AI chatbots. When Peggy went to Orillia OPP, police confirmed that the money appeared to have left the country, and there was no trace of funds in legitimate crypto accounts. As Acting Sgt. Gilles Doiron explained, such cases are managed locally but may require specialized cybercrime units. Efforts to reclaim the stolen funds met dead ends at every turn.
The Littles now face an uncertain future, relying on modest pensions and whatever community support they can muster. Peggy’s urgent plea, “I want people to be well aware of the scoundrels and thieves that are out there,” is a stark reminder that no community is immune. The OPP, for their part, continue to warn residents: never share personal information with strangers, verify investments with trusted institutions, and report all suspicious activity.
No one expects to become the next cautionary tale. In Orillia, the lesson lands hard: vigilance is no longer optional, and the cost of oversight is staggering.
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Orillia couple scammed out of $1.3M in elaborate cyber crime
