Toronto cops charge movers with fraud

Eight men and one woman have been arrested in Toronto and charged with fraud after police busted an allegedly fraudulent moving company.

Police say the victims made arrangements with one of several moving companies to shift their furniture. They allege the suspects held their goods hostage, or  threatened to throw them onto the road, unless they were paid extra.

On Thursday Toronto police said they had seized 13 moving trucks, $20,000 in cash and two vehicles in connection with their investigation. 

Syed Altaf Hussain, 57, of Toronto, Arif Adnan Syed, 27, of Markham, Syed Amit Monwar Hussain, 29, of Toronto, Clyde Alen Muffty, 34, of Toronto,  Scott Paul Slater, 31, of Toronto, Vanessa Longhurst, 38, of Toronto,  Joseph Lima, 22, of Toronto,  Syed Tamim Rejw Hussain, 25, of Toronto and Jimmy Roland Veilleux, 35, of Toronto have all been charged with fraud. 

Police say the various moving companies operated by the group took in as much as $1 million per year. 

Supt. Sam Fernandes said the movers would simply quote consumers a low price then, once they had their furniture on the truck, they would demand extra payments - up to $2,500.  If the customer didn't pay up they movers withheld their furniture, or even dumped it on the road.

"It was a nightmare," said Miriam Goodger who was victimized by the movers two weeks ago.

"They came to my house and told me it would cost $350 to move. It ended up costing $1,237 - and I had to move all my belongings in the rain, by myself, up 12 flights of stairs," she said. 

The arrests are a result of a five-month investigation. 

Police believe there are more victims.