A resident of Airdrie has been charged with multiple fraud and money laundering-related offences following an investigation by the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region’s Provincial Financial Crime Team (PFCT) in Edmonton.
The accused, Mbua Ngomba Kalla, 49, is alleged to have fraudulently obtained over $100,000 from domestic and international victims between January and July 2023. The victims reportedly sent money via e-transfer and wire transfer for goods advertised on online sales platforms, including hay bales, deer antlers, antiseptic cleaning wipes, and sea urchins.
Investigators believe Kalla was also operating an informal value transfer system known as hawala, using trade-based money laundering methods in violation of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA).
Kalla faces several charges, including theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, and multiple violations of the PCMLTFA, such as failing to register as a money services business and failing to report large transactions.
He is scheduled to appear in Airdrie Provincial Court on Oct. 17, 2024.
If you believe you may be a victim of fraud, or are currently being targeted by fraud, please report it to your 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.
