Milton Man Charged After Halton Police Bust "Fake Agent" Phone Scam

A 42-year-old Milton man is facing three charges after Halton Regional Police say they dismantled a "fake agent" phone scam that tricked telecom customers across the region into buying — and then surrendering — thousands of dollars in smartphones and tablets.

What Happened

Halton Regional Police say the scheme worked by having callers pose as employees or agents of major telecommunications companies such as Rogers, Bell and Telus. According to police, victims were contacted out of the blue and told they qualified for a free smartphone or tablet through their existing wireless account. Victims were then manipulated into purchasing a new device, often after being falsely told it would end up costing them nothing.

Once the device arrived, police say the scammer called the victim again, claimed there had been an error with the order, and instructed them to ship the device to a P.O. box under the scammer's control. Investigators say the devices were then shipped overseas and resold for profit.

Police say the investigation began earlier this month after officers were alerted to a number of suspicious packages headed for a P.O. box in Milton. Members of the Halton Regional Police Financial Crimes Unit conducted surveillance on the location, and on July 9 arrested a suspect as he arrived to pick up the packages.

Adnan Asghar, 42, of Milton, has been charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and laundering proceeds of crime. Police say that at the time of his arrest, the accused was in possession of 22 electronic devices — including iPhones, iPads and Samsung Galaxy phones — valued at more than $36,000. No conviction has been reported, and the charges against Asghar have not been tested in court.

Key Details

• Police allege the scam relied on impersonating telecom company representatives.

• Victims were allegedly told a device would be free, then pressured to "return" it to a P.O. box.

• The arrest followed a surveillance operation by the HRPS Financial Crimes Unit on July 9.

• Asghar faces charges of fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, and money laundering.

• Seized devices were valued at more than $36,000, according to police.

Community Impact

Fraud schemes like this one rely on residents' trust in familiar phone and internet providers, and police say the tactics can be convincing enough to catch even careful consumers off guard. Halton Police are urging Milton residents to treat unsolicited calls claiming to be from a telecom provider with caution, and to never ship a newly purchased device to a third party or unfamiliar address, regardless of the reason given.

Residents who believe they've been targeted by a similar scheme are asked to contact the HRPS Financial Crimes Unit at 905-825-4747, or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Halton at 1-800-222-8477 or online at haltoncrimestoppers.ca.

Source: Halton Regional Police Service — https://www.haltonpolice.ca/news-releases/posts/halton-police-make-arrest-in-fake-agent-scam/

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