B.C. man charged in Lethbridge, Alta., investment fraud

Lethbridge police have charged a B.C. man in connection with a significant fraud that targeted a local resident. (File)

Authorities have arrested a Delta, B.C., man in connection with an investment fraud that bilked almost $600,000 from a Lethbridge resident.

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On Nov. 30, 2024, Lethbridge police were contacted by a 59-year-old man who said he was the victim of a scam.

Investigators soon determined that between June and August 2024, he made multiple wire transfers to a man for what he believed were investment opportunities.

Police learned that the person the victim was conversing with was converting the funds he received into cryptocurrency, then transferring them to an online exchange.

Once there, the suspect is believed to have withdrawn the funds to deposit them into other cryptocurrency accounts outside of Canadian jurisdiction, where they could not be recovered.

The man, a B.C. resident, was later identified and arrested without incident on Nov. 26.

I Lin Chiu, 36, is charged with possession of property over $5,000 and laundering the proceeds of crime.

Chiu was released with conditions and is expected to appear in court on Jan. 20, 2026.