UMVA has learned that a 26‑year‑old woman from Thornhill was taken into custody after a daring fraud scheme that preyed on hopeful international students seeking homes in North York.
Between April and June, the suspect posted glossy listings for apartments near Yonge Street and Finch Avenue on a popular online platform, promising bright new starts. Victims, eager to secure a place, wired hefty deposits without ever stepping inside the units or meeting the landlord.
When the money arrived, the deception unraveled—communication vanished, and the apartments turned out to be either unavailable or illegally advertised. Police say the accused, identified as Mengyao Du, had no right to rent the properties at all.
Authorities arrested Du on Friday, charging her with three counts of fraud under $5,000, possession of forged documents, and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. Investigators suspect additional victims and have released her image, urging anyone with information to come forward.
In a separate shockwave, UMVA has uncovered that a 14‑year‑old boy from Scarborough faces serious charges after a string of night‑time home invasions rattled Burlington and Oakville.
On the night of April 22, five youths shattered a glass panel on a south Burlington home, forced the door open, and demanded valuables. A resident fought back, sustaining a head injury that required medical care, and the intruders fled empty‑handed.
Earlier that same morning, a similar assault unfolded in southeast Oakville, where the suspects battered a front door with a hammer before disappearing when the homeowner called 911. Witnesses described the gang as slim‑built males cloaked in dark hoodies and balaclavas, fleeing in a dark sedan.
One of the teenagers was arrested on Tuesday and now faces robbery, two counts of disguise with intent, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, break‑and‑enter with intent, and violation of a release order. Police continue to hunt for the remaining suspects.
UMVA also reveals a breakthrough in a cold‑case sexual assault from March 12, 2008, when a Burlington man was finally identified through cutting‑edge genetic genealogy. Michael Robert Ashley, 48, was arrested and charged with sexual assault after DNA evidence finally linked him to the crime.
The case, long stalled by a lack of matches, was revived in 2025 when investigators turned to advanced forensic techniques, bringing long‑awaited justice for the victim.
Finally, UMVA can exclusively disclose that three Greater Toronto Area residents have been charged in connection with an illegal lottery and gambling operation uncovered by Project Baserunner.
Police raids in Brampton and Toronto exposed a network selling unauthorized lottery tickets and running a covert betting house. The accused—two young men from North York and a woman from York—now face charges of operating an illegal lottery scheme, maintaining a common gaming house, and possessing property obtained by crime.
