Email scam drained $814,000 from Just for Laughs' coffers: report
The fraud involved someone who created email addresses that appeared to be from companies that provided services to the firm behind Montreal's comedy festival.
You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
Article content
Scammers got the last laugh.
The Montreal company that operates the Just for Laughs comedy festival lost more than $800,000 in an impersonation scam last year, according to documents obtained by La Presse.
Article content
The news comes weeks after Gestion Juste pour rire Inc. cancelled this year’s edition of its comedy festival as it seeks to avoid bankruptcy. The company owes more than $27 million to creditors.
The fraud involved someone who created email addresses that appeared to be from L’Équipe Spectra and Groupe CH, companies that provide management services to Just for Laughs, La Presse reported.
Using a spoofed email address, the scammer or scammers instructed Just for Laughs to send payments to a new bank account, according to the report.
Between February and April 2023, Just for Laughs sent three payments totalling $813,657 to that bank account, the report said.
The company uncovered the scam in May 2023 and alerted Montreal police.
Just for Laughs is seeking to identify who owns the bank account into which the money was deposited.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
There with you then. Here with you now. As a critical part of the community for over 245 years,The Gazette continues to deliver trusted English-language news and coverage on issues that matter. Subscribe now to receive:
Unlimited online access to our award-winning journalism including thought-provoking columns by Allison Hanes, Josh Freed and Bill Brownstein.
Opportunity to engage with our commenting community and learn from fellow readers in a moderated forum.
Unlimited online access to the Montreal Gazette and National Post, including the New York Times Crossword, and 14 more news sites with one account
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Montreal Gazette ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, where you can share and comment..
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
There with you then. Here with you now. As a critical part of the community for over 245 years,The Gazette continues to deliver trusted English-language news and coverage on issues that matter. Subscribe now to receive:
Unlimited online access to our award-winning journalism including thought-provoking columns by Allison Hanes, Josh Freed and Bill Brownstein.
Opportunity to engage with our commenting community and learn from fellow readers in a moderated forum.
Unlimited online access to the Montreal Gazette and National Post, including the New York Times Crossword, and 14 more news sites with one account
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Montreal Gazette ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, where you can share and comment..
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
There with you then. Here with you now. As a critical part of the community for over 245 years,The Gazette continues to deliver trusted English-language news and coverage on issues that matter. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.
This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.