Airdrie man allegedly defrauded people of more than $100,000 from online sales platforms

An Airdrie resident, Mbua Ngomba Kalla, was charged with fraud and money laundering-related offences in Edmonton, reported the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region’s Provincial Financial Crime Team (PFCT).

Between January and July 2023, Ngomba Kalla is alleged to have fraudulently received in excess of $100,000 from domestic and international victims who sent money via e-transfer and wire transfer to purchase goods from online sales platforms. The fraudulent sales included goods such as hay bales, deer antlers, antiseptic cleaning wipes and sea urchins.

The accused is also believed to have been running an informal value transfer system, known as hawala, using trade-based money laundering methods that contravene the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA).

Mbua Ngomba Kalla, 49, a resident of Airdrie, was charged was arrested and charged with:

• Theft over $5,000 contrary to section 380(1)(a) of the Criminal Code;
• Possession of property obtained by crime contrary to section 355(a) of the Criminal Code;
• Failure to register as a money service business contrary to section 11.1 of the PCMLTFA;
• Failure to report large value transactions contrary to section 12 of the PCMLTFA; and,
• Failure to verify identity contrary to section 74(1) of the PCMLTFA.
• Kalla is scheduled to appear in the Airdrie Provincial Court on Oct. 17, 2024.

“By working with our partners at the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada and law enforcement agencies across Canada, we found that the individual used the internet to commit multiple frauds with victims across western Canada and abroad," said Insp. John Lamming, RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region.

Victims of fraud, or those being targeted by fraud, are asked to report it to local law enforcement and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501. Instances of compromised personal and/or financial information should be reported to your bank and credit card company. To learn more about the various types of frauds and scams, please visit the CAFC's scam webpage.

The Provincial Financial Crime Team is a specialized unit that conducts investigations relating to multi-jurisdictional serious fraud, investment scams and corruption.