Police say online dating hoaxes, suspicious retailers, bogus tech support, government imposters and fake e-mail solicitations remain the top five online fraud scams in the last year.

In online dating scams cyber criminals use dating apps or social media to strike up conversations with potential targets. After cultivating a relationship and earning your trust, they will need funds for a plane ticket, or other expense, and ask you to wire money or buy a gift card to help pay for it.

Police warn never to send money or buy gift cards for someone you have never met.

Suspicious retailers usually set up a fake store online, on social media, which offer products at the cheapest prices for items you may need. The thieves get you at check out since they may not use a trusted source of payment and have direct access to your information.

Police say if the deals seems too good to be true, it probably is. Do some research talk to people or search the company.

Beware of the good old bogus tech support scam, where you receive a request by e-mail, pop-up window or phone call from a tech support claiming your computer has malware. They ask for payment to fix the defects.

Police warn to hang up if someone calls. Install the latest updates or take your computer to a reputable store. Software companies do not initiate support calls.

In the government imposters file you receive a request from someone claiming to be a U.S. government agency urging you to settle a debt right away, or pay money to receive some sort of federal funds or to verify your personal information.

They claim you can be arrested or lose your home or your Social Security benefits withheld.

Police warn that the federal government will not phone or email you to pay back debt with untraceable prepaid debit, gift card or wired transfer.

Fraudulent e-mail solicitations advise you about working at home or buy cheap services or your account will be deactivated. You are asked to immediately send money or for account information.

If you receive a suspicious e-mail, be cautious about opening any attachments or clicking on links within it. If you do have an account with the company purportedly sending the email, log in directly to the company’s homepage.

You are asked to contact police or your financial institution right away if you wired money so it can stop payment.

How to avoid online scams

Make the Right Call

Condo Safety Tips

The West Point Inn, at 1 Lake Shore Road, Mimico.

Mimico back in the day had a nice beachy feel to it.

Area resident, newsman and editor Ian Robertson spotted these historic postcards on eBay of Mimico as it was more than 50 years ago.

A FINE EXTENSION of the motel to accommodate more visitors.

ONE OF A NUMBER of extensions made to The West Point over time as times and people changed.

It shows the long-gone Westpoint Motel from and restaurant,  located at 1 Lakeshore Rd., Mimico.

SUN TOWN MIMICO attracted many tourists and visitors back in the day. The beach looks very appealing. 

ADRIANO “The King of Lasagna’ COOKS another lasagna that will be gone soon to thankful customers. Photo by Tom Godfrey.

Long Branch’s Adriano’s Pizza and Pasta boasts of having the fastest-selling and tastiest lasagna and pasta in Etobicoke.

“Sold out every day,” is how owner Adrian Stolaj describes his tasty lasagna. “See, no more. People order and pick up for themselves and family.”

ADRIANO SAYS all his lasagna and pasta are made with love and lots of cheese and meat.

Stolaj says food lovers travel from across the city to his 3329 Lake Shore Blvd. W. takeout restaurant.

“The food is great. I had one lady come here from downtown Toronto to get 20 servings,” he smiles. “She left me a $50 tip. Imagine that.”

Sales was not always this hot for the popular Long Branch pizza maker. A fire at his store about a month ago set him back a few days of business and a loss.

But his loyal fans could not wait.

SO GOOD!

A Go Fund Me page created by customers Jackie Goodman and Lisa Davis raised more than $8,000 from foodies across the country and the U.S. to help rebuild the store, which is known for helping area charities or people in need.

Stolaj says he is touched by the outpouring of support that he has received.

“One guy called from California to give some money,” he recalls. “It turned out the guy went to Humber College and had a good experience.”

The caller made a sizeable donation in U.S. funds.

He thanks 850 Degrees Pizzeria, at 3455 Lake Shore Blvd. W., for taking a collection from its staff and customers to help repair the shop.

An area businessperson, whom Stolaj has never met, donated a $6,000 pizza-prep table. “It still had the plastic on the counter,” he says.

Another customer kicked in a large microwave that will receive good use.

“The little children from nearby James S. Bell Middle School donated change and their lunch money,” he says. “It was very touching.”

Stolaj would like to thank all the customers and others who helped him get back on his feet after being set back by the blaze.

The store can be reached at 416-792-4074.

SUSPECTS in Lake Shore Blvd. W. convenience store trying to pass stolen credit card. Halton Police photo.

Merchants in the Lakeshore Blvd. W. area are being warned of thieves trying to use stolen credit cards to purchase goods or obtain cash in small mom and pop stores.

Halton Regional Police say the cards were stolen on January 6 about 4:30 a.m. during multiple thefts from unlocked vehicles in the area of Melvin Avenue and Chartwell Road in Oakville.

“During one theft a wallet containing bank cards was stolen,” police said in a release. “ The stolen bank cards were utilized to make fraudulent purchases a short time later at several convenience stores along Lakeshore Boulevard West in Etobicoke.”

Detectives have released photos of some of the suspects involved.

One man is described as wearing glasses, a blue and black winter jacket with a black hoodie underneath (pulled up), black pants and black and white shoes. The suspect was wearing a black mask.

Another man was wearing a black-hooded jacket, black pants and black shoes.  The suspect was wearing a black mask or balaclava under his hoodie.

The suspects may be associated to a stolen black 2017 Volvo CX90 with Ontario licence plate PHENIX88, according to police.  They believe the vehicle may have also used in the armed robbery of a Circle K convenience store in Milton.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Halton Police 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2416.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.

PÄSSENGERS on a GO Bus suffered minor injuries after they were hit by a car whose driver fled on foot. Global TV photo.

Police are searching for a driver who fled on foot after more than a dozen people sustained injuries in a crash on the Gardiner Expressway.

Police and emergency crews were called on January 12 to the westbound lanes of the highway near Islington Avenue, just before 9 p.m., after reports of a multi-vehicle collision involving a GO Transit bus.

Police say it appears a car had been speeding and interacted with other vehicles before it flipped over.

Another vehicle swerved to avoid the car and hit a GO Bus carrying passengers.

Police say the driver of the flipped car, who may have been wounded, fled the scene on foot.

Another driver became trapped in their vehicle and had to be extricated at the scene.

None of the 16 people checked for injuries at the scene were taken to hospital.

The missing driver is the second in just over three months to flee on foot following a bad crash on the Gardener.

Last October the driver of an Audi bolted after a crash that left a 58-year-old woman dead and another person injured.

That collision happened nearby at the exit for Islington Avenue.

In that crash, a driver of a white 2015 Audi R8 sports car rear-ended a grey Nissan, causing the Nissan to hit the median guard rail and flip over also leaving a woman trapped.

Both drivers who took off are still on the run.

POLICE warn to keep an eye on your Apple products at Sherway.

Police are warning shoppers purchasing Apple products at the upscale Sherway Gardens Mall to be very careful with their purchases.

Officers from 22 Division have tweeted that thieves are actively targeting shoppers purchasing Apple products at the huge mall.

THIEVES follow customers to their cars to steal their purchases, police say.

Officers have received multiple complaints of shoppers who have had Apple goods stolen from their vehicles.

“The perpetrators stole the Apple products after they were left in cars while customers continued shopping elsewhere,” according to a police tweet.

Shoppers are being reminded to remove any items they do not want stolen from their vehicles.

“They can’t steal what’s not there,” according to the tweet. “Always take anti-theft precautions.”

They said an anti-theft alarm will improve your chances of being robbed.

POLICE ACCUSE Marvin Hernandez-Viera of cutting off his ankle monitoring bracelet to escape an attempted murder charge.  Police photo.

A search is underway for a man accused by Toronto Police of attempted murder who fled after cutting off an ankle bracelet monitor.

Marvin Hernandez-Viera, who was 22 at the time, of Toronto, was arrested on September 2019 and charged with attempt murder.

He was ordered by the court to wear an ankle monitor and stay with his surety, according to police.

The suspect fled on January 2022 around 1:30 p.m. Police allege Hernandez-Viera cut off the ankle bracelet monitor and fled the home of his surety.

He face new charges of obstruct justice and fail to comply with recognizance.

Police said the suspect is “known to be violent and dangerous.”

He is being urged by police to contact a lawyer and arrange his surrender.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).

MAN SOUGHT for allegedly stabbing woman on downtown bus. Toronto Police photos.

A woman minding her own business was brutally stabbed on a downtown bus, police say.
Toronto Police are hot on the trail of a man who is sought for allegedly stabbing a woman on a TTC bus early in the morning of January 8.

Police said the brutal attack took place around 9:45 a.m. on board a TTC bus heading east on Queen Street W., near the Tecumseth Street area.

THE WOMAN is lucky to be alive after suffering stab wounds.

“It is reported that a 32-year-old woman was sitting on a bus,” according to a police press release. “A man sat behind her. He produced a knife and stabbed her.”

Police said the suspect fled the area.

“This was an unprovoked attack,” police said. “The woman was treated for her injuries in hospital and later released.”

The suspect is described as 5’9″-6’0″, with a thin build, brown or light tanned complexion, short dark hair, thick dark eyebrows and is unshaven.

He was wearing a black winter jacket, red ‘Champion’ sweater, long white t-shirt, beige pants, and black sneakers with a white sole. He was carrying a black backpack.
He is believed to be armed, violent, and dangerous. If located, do not approach. Call 9-1-1 immediately.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).

THESE weapons were removed from our streets thanks to quick thinking 11 Division officers. TPS photo.

Two men are in jail facing a number of weapons-related offenses after shots were fired at a vehicle that led to a police search.

Officers were called to the area of Sterling Road and Dundas Street West at about 4:41 p.m. on January 6 for a report of a shooting.

It is reported that a vehicle was fired at by two men who were then seen running northbound on Sterling Road.

When officers arrived they found a number of spent shell casings.

The men were located by police and arrested. Three guns were recovered during the arrest, police said.

Toronto police Chief James Ramer congratulated the 11 Division officers  on the arrest writing that they were involved in a foot chase with the suspects following the shooting.

Mario Francis, 32, and David Williams, 19, both of Toronto, were arrested and charged with more than a dozen firearms and failing to comply with a court order offenses.

They appeared at Old City Hall court on January 7.

MANY Mimico residents say a new beer store is to far away.

Many Mimico residents are perplexed about where to purchase their favourite beers now that an iconic Beer Store has been shut.

The store, at 2458 Lake Shore Blvd. W., near Mimico Avenue, is one of a number of beer stores being shut across Toronto, as new mostly residential developments spring up on the properties.

Folks in Mimico are told of an upcoming store in The Queensway and Islington Avenue area.

SOME argue the beer stores are a monopoly for the big brewers.

Social media is also reporting that another store in our area: the one at 3429 Bloor Street W., near Islington Ave., may also slated for closure.

Mimico residents say they are not pleased to travel in the winter by TTC  to a local Metro, an LCBO on First Street or a second on The Queensway, or to a Beer Store in Long Branch  to purchase their favourite brew or return empties.

They say there are many seniors in the area on which the travel will be a burden.

The Mimico Beer Store has been in the same location for about four decades, according to residents.

The Beer Store, which started nearly a century ago as a consortium of Ontario brewers, is still one of the only retailers in Ontario, along with the LCBO, that is allowed sell beer in six, or 12-packs and 24-packs.

The monopoly is owned by multi-national brewers Labatts, Molson-Coors and Sleeman, now owned by Sapporo

There are around 450 locations across the province, which cumulatively sell more than 80 per cent of the beer in Ontario.

Ironically, the now-shut Mimico beer store is being advertised for lease on social media.