2 men from Ontario have been charged in connection with alleged theft of money

🔵 CHARGES FILED 🔵

Two men from Ontario have been charged in connection with the alleged theft of money from a university student, following a scam involving a fraudulent offer to sell an overstock projector at a reduced price.

📍 On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, around noon, the victim was at the University of Calgary, located at 2500 University Dr. N.W., when he was approached by two individuals who claimed to be university employees involved in projector installations and stated they had surplus inventory.

The suspects proposed selling the victim a projector at a discounted rate. The victim agreed to the purchase and accepted a ride to the bank in the suspects' vehicle. Upon arrival at the bank, the victim withdrew cash to pay for the projector.

Afterward, the suspects drove the victim back to the university campus. When the victim handed over the money, the suspects quickly entered their vehicle and fled the scene without delivering the projector.

The victim reported the incident to campus security, who soon located the same two suspects near a student residence, where they were again attempting to sell discounted projectors to a group of students.

Law enforcement was promptly notified, and an investigation was initiated. It was revealed that the suspects were not affiliated with the University of Calgary but were impersonating employees to carry out the scam.

Investigators suspect that the suspects have targeted multiple post-secondary institutions across Canada as part of this scheme.

On Thursday, March 27, 2025, at approximately 10:30 a.m., police apprehended the two suspects in a parking lot in the northwest community of Collingwood. They were arrested and charged, with authorities seizing several projectors, screens, and $9,000 in cash.

📌 Consequently, Yousef HILAL, 24, from Mississauga, Ont., and Arpit RASELA, 28, from Georgetown, Ont., have been charged with fraud under $5,000 and possession of proceeds of crime exceeding $5,000.

Their next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

CPS