A woman is accused of posing as a licensed masseuse and acupuncturist and swindling $37,000 from unsuspecting customers over a four-year period.
Halton Regional Police said they launched an identity fraud investigation in January and discovered the woman had obtained and used the registration number of an actual licensed masseuse.
“(She) would provide these registration numbers to her clients to submit invoices to their respective insurance companies after receiving payment for the services,” police alleged in a news release on Wednesday.
Investigators also found that the woman was suspected of providing other treatments, including physical therapy and acupuncture, without a license.
Police say the woman, who provided the services from her home and sometimes on the road, made $37,000 over a four-year period.
On Wednesday, investigators identified the suspect as Mahvish Ahmed, 49. She was arrested and charged with 13 counts of identity fraud, one count of fraud over $5,000 and one count of fraud under $5,000.
Police said Ahmed was released on bail and is due to appear in Milton Magistrates Court on August 26.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Financial Crimes Unit at 905-825-4777 extension 8739 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca
