It’s being called a “major fraud” according to a news release from the Saugeen Shores Police Services.
Police Chief Dan Rivett says they are investigating a fraud reported by the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber’s bank, CIBC.
Rivett says the fraud came to light late last month when descrepancies started to surface between what the bank said was in the Chamber account and what the Chamber thought they had in the account.
Rivett says they have discovered the discrepancies intiated with the Pumpkinfest accounts.
He says safeguards are now in place so that the same thing doesn’t happen in the future.
In the meantime, police will wait to get all the pieces of the puzzle together before any arrest or charges are considered.
However police say they do have a suspect.
Rivett says the fraud involves thousands of dollars although no exact amount was mentioned.
He says he believes the fraud happened somewhere between when the bank released its usual statement and the Chamber received the statement.
Rivett says investigation of these types of cases take weeks, sometime months before all of the ducks are in a row to make a move.
A sergeant from the criminal investigation branch is now assigned to the matter full time.
Meanwhile, Rivett urges the general public not to jump to any conclusions in the case.
He says there are a lot of rumours on the street and unless you know exactly what is going on, you shouldn’t be spreading gossip about who’s been caught doing what.
