Woman who allegedly scammed CERB arrested

Toronto police have charged a Montreal woman who allegedly attempted to defraud the federal government’s Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) program.

According to police, Karina Riel, 40, travelled to Toronto to open assorted bank accounts in order to defraud the CERB program.

Police say that Riel came to Toronto from Montreal “for the sole purpose of fraudulently making CERB applications.”

The government established the CERB program to provide income support to employees who have lost work due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Riel, who was arrested on June 11, was charged with fraud under $5,000, impersonation, forgery and identity theft.

The charges have not been proven. Police report that their investigation is ongoing.

James Langton

James is a senior reporter for Advisor.ca and its sister publication, Investment Executive. He has been reporting on regulation, securities law, industry news and more since 1994.