City of Ottawa recovers stolen $558,000 after fraud scheme involving Salvation Army

OTTAWA — The City of Ottawa’s treasurer says the municipality has recovered more than half a million dollars it lost in a fraud scheme carried out against the local Salvation Army homeless shelter.

An earlier memo to city council revealed that $558,000 was lost after the Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre fell victim to an “illegal action.”

City staff noticed an irregularity related to a payment made to the shelter on April 11.

City treasurer Wendy Stephanson says the fraud was reported to police and the city’s bank.