Columbia Valley RCMP Report

By S/Sgt Marko Shehovac

Twice recently it has come to my attention that a scheme to get your money that was around approximately five years ago has once again surfaced.

The majority of time it’s easy to recognize a scheme to get your money when we receive letters or e-mails stating that we have a lot of money to give you; just need some banking information. Goes in the garbage, I hope.

A little more difficult to guard oneself when it’s family or friends that bring you into a scheme where there is over 88% chance you will kiss your hard-earned money away as well as some friends.

What I am hearing about is the Women’s Gifting Circle. They want to call it a circle even though the set up in reality is a pyramid scheme.

You are invited to meet up at a home with a group of friends and the discussion turns to how can we women empower ourselves and at the same time help other women in need of empowerment. You trust these people who bring this forward. They are family. Friends you’ve known for years. Financial support goes a long way to assist in empowerment. The circle will help you obtain your dreams. We can even help women in an abusive relationship.

First, however, eight women have to give me $5,000. You are told that there is no promise of obtaining a product or receiving anything for this wonderful gift. Has to be clear you are giving a gift to the top person which will add up to $40,000. Must be clear it is a gift you are giving, so later when you try to sue because you didn’t get your $40,000 as the Circle is intended to do, it was made clear it was a gift and hence no criminal intent or involvement. Wrong.

The circle as described is a criminal act. You even have that in writing on documents provided to you. I noticed there is no signature or name on the document.

The person initiating a circle describes it in many ways; the Sun, the moon, the stars.

In the Columbia Valley I am hearing that the person starting the circle wants to be known as ‘the Dessert,’ two below her will be ‘the Entree,’ four below her will be ‘the Soup’ and ‘Salad’ and eight new people to sign on to the circle will be ‘the appetizers.’ Sounds so innocent and cute.

All you appetizers who want in on this great idea to empower women can join in on the circle once you give the head person (dessert), $5,000. Once I get my $40,000 I break out of the group and the two people below me get their own circle. See where this is going? We have to go recruiting to keep this going.

The 12% who start this have a good chance to grab their $40,000 and financially empower themselves. They might even promise to help recruit people for you. My bet is that ‘Dessert’ will flash her $40,000 and go out and initiate another circle.

Two things are at work here: greed for some and for many women falling into this scheme, hope. You have bonded with this group. You are told we support each other. How can this go wrong? Do the research. Do the math. There is a great deal of information on this scheme when you Google or Youtube, “Women’s Gifting Circle.”

RCMP and OPP website: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. BC Security Commission’s: www.invesright.org .

Pyramid schemes are illegal under the Competition Act, and serious charges may be brought against you if you are operating or affiliated with one of these schemes. Criminal code Section 206 (1) is applicable when I checked with our Federal Serious and Organized Crime Section.

If you wish to empower women or reach out to assist women in need financially, spiritually or emotionally, there are many organizations in the valley that would gladly accept your financial contribution or volunteer your time.

Support the Women’s Centre. Support the Purple Light campaign. Support the Safe Home program. Support the Food Bank. Support your friend or co-worker who remains silent to the bruises you see by speaking out.

Here is my message for those who are initiating these pyramid schemes in the valley. When it goes sideways with one of your victims and it is reported to the detachment, we will investigate, we will take statements and we will consult with Crown Council regarding any charges that can be brought forward. Very difficult to identify those who send letters and e-mails in attempts to gain money through fraud. Identification in this type of scenario would not be a problem.

To understand the mind of a criminal

I am of the opinion that in order to be a good investigator to solve crimes, one must put one’s self in the mindset of a criminal. Think like a criminal. It certainly is true with my own experience.

However, I went one step further. At one time I was a criminal. The intent wasn’t there but in fact a crime was committed.

I was pretty young at the time. Still playing with toys. My father went to an auto wrecker yard to purchase some parts for his car. The auto wrecker had a sandbox with rather large Tonka type trucks for kids to play with while parents were doing business. I recall asking my Dad if I could play with the trucks. He instructed me to go ahead until he returns from his business.

I remember picking up three to four of these huge toy trucks and placing them in the back seat of Dad’s car. Dad comes back and we head back home. Once home I exited the car and started removing these toy trucks out of the car. I remember my Dad questioning me as to why I took them. My stance was pretty clear, Dad told me  I could play with them. So I brought them home to play with. What’s the problem?

Back to the wrecker yard we go. My first experience with Restorative Justice.  Pretty much the only crime that I will admit to.

– S/Sgt. Marko Shehovac is the commander of the Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment

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