Fake $100 Bills Used AGAIN in Guelph Phone Sale Scam

Guelph Police are investigating a second nearly identical phone sale scam this month, raising concerns about a repeat offender targeting online sellers. Here is what investigators say happened in both cases and what they are looking into now.

For the second time this month the Guelph Police Service is investigating after fake $100 bills were used to buy a phone.

Approximately 10:45 p.m. Sunday a resident near Victoria Road North and Woodlawn Road East reported he was selling an iPhone 16 Pro through Facebook Marketplace and arranged for the buyer to attend his residence, where he handed over 10 $100 bills.

The seller believed the bills were fake and questioned the suspect, who fled on foot with the phone. He was described as a brown male, approximately 18 and wearing a black puffy coat. His Facebook profile was deleted after the incident.

On December 3 a resident near Fleming Road and Severn Drive reported a similar transaction, with the suspect in that case handing over seven bogus $100 bills for an iPhone 15 Pro. The suspect had a similar description and was caught on video arriving and leaving in a white Mercedes with two other males.

Anyone with information about the most recent incident is asked to call Constable Karson Massey at 519-824-1212, ext. 7594, email kmassey@guelphpolice.ca, leave an anonymous message for Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or leave an anonymous tip online at www.csgw.tips.