EDMONTON Police believe there are citizens who may have purchased authentic Oilers jerseys with fraudulent Connor McDavid signatures online from a man claiming to be from the Edmonton Oilers Entertainment Group or Pro Am Sports.
Chandra Vinesh Singh, 23, is charged with two counts of possession of a forged document, fraud over $5,000, fraud under $5,000 and false pretence. Singh is also known to go by Vinesh Singh or Vinny.
In April 2018, it was reported that Singh contacted several people via Facebook claiming he was employed by either the Edmonton Oilers Entertainment Group or Pro Am Sports and was selling autographed Connor McDavid jerseys. Investigators believe Singh successfully sold two fraudulently autographed jerseys to a citizen for $1,400.
Several months later, in February 2019, it was reported that Singh proposed an “investment opportunity” to an individual via Facebook, which again involved Oilers jerseys that Singh falsely claimed were signed by Connor McDavid. Singh also allegedly used fraudulent documents to support his claims. The individual was allegedly defrauded of $23,000.
The Edmonton Police Service has confirmed through the Edmonton Oilers Entertainment Group and Pro Am Sports that the autographs on the jerseys sold in April of 2018 were not authentic.
“We thank the Edmonton Police Service for their diligence on this matter,” said OEG Senior Vice President Corporate Communications and Government Relations Tim Shipton. “We are fortunate to have fans who support the team through the purchase of memorabilia, but this is a good reminder for our fans to always go to trusted sources.”
Given the similarity of the alleged misconduct in these events, and the timeframe across which they occurred, the EPS believes that there are likely additional people who have been similarly victimized.
The Edmonton Police Service reminds citizens to use caution when purchasing from non-licensed vendors and individuals online. For more information regarding Pro Am Sports’ authenticity program, visit: Choose team real deal when buying your gear and memorabilia. For more information on where to find certified, authentic Edmonton Oilers memorabilia, visit: Edmonton Oilers Authentic Autographed Memorabilia.
