The victim was selling his Orangeville restaurant and was approached by the suspect as a possible buyer.The suspect wanted to pay cash for the business and told the victim the money had been shipped out of an African nation and for security reasons had been chemically altered, causing the bills to look like blank paper.The victims were told the cash had to be treated with a special chemical to be restored to its original condition and the recovery process required the use of the victims' cash. After an elaborate hoax to restore the money, the victims realized the cash was just blank paper and their real money was gone.

On Friday, April 18, 2008, investigators in the York Regional Police Central Fraud Unit, with the assistance of Peel Regional Police, executed a Criminal Code search warrant on a residence in the City of Brampton.Officers located materials used in the fraud. The female suspect was charged at that time, while the second suspect turned himself into police on April 24, 2008.

CHARGED:
• Janet CHUDEU, 37, of Brampton
• Armand CHUDEU, 34, of Brampton

CHARGES:
• Fraud Over $5,000
• Possession of Instruments of Forgery

Armand CHUDEU is held in custody and will appear sometime today before the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket.

Janet CHUDEU will appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket on May 29, 2008.

York Regional Police would like to remind the public of the following:
• If an offer sounds too good to be true, then it probably is
• Never give personal information over the telephone or the Internet
• Never give out your passwords or PIN
• Be cautious. You have the right to check out the investment or buyer by requesting written information, seeking references, asking questions, weighing the answers and taking time to think over the offer