Fraud results in loss of more than $330K for Creative Saskatchewan

Police are investigating after Creative Saskatchewan was defrauded of more than $330,000.

That loss was one of two included in the report of public losses for Saskatchewan ministries and Crown corporations between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 of last year. That report was released by the provincial government on Monday.

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According to a release from the government, someone impersonating a client changed banking information in August, resulting in a payment of $331,568.80 being redirected to the fraudster’s bank account.

The release said police were investigating, and noted Creative Saskatchewan had recovered $118,336.10 to date.

“While employee, supplier or contractor involvement is not suspected, given the loss is due to fraud and its significance, it is being reported,” the report said.

The other loss involved the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, and occurred between 2019 and June of last year. The government said those dates were a “preliminary estimate,” as was the loss of more than $5,000.

The government said payments were made to a fake vendor for work orders that weren’t completed.

A Cumberland House Housing Authority manager was fired in connection with the matter, which is being probed by police.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority, Athabasca Health Authority and Saskatchewan Cancer Agency didn’t report any losses to the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Advanced Education didn’t report any losses of money or property at Saskatchewan Polytechnic or the regional colleges, and the Crown Investments Corporation also tabled a nil report.