Tillsonburg resident charged with fraud linked to Norwich retirement home
A Tillsonburg resident faces a fraud charge linked to a Norwich retirement home after 26 individuals reported losses exceeding $190,000. The home, Trillium Care Norwich, abruptly closed, raising concerns.
A Tillsonburg resident is charged with one count of fraud following an investigation that determined 26 people linked to a retirement home in Norwich lost more than $190,000, Oxford OPP say.
The investigation began in August 2024 when police were notified of a reported fraud at a retirement home in Norwich, located about 65 kilometres east of London.
Oxford OPP did not identify the home, but the Free Press reported it was Trillium Care Norwich. Const. Matthew Foster of Oxford OPP confirmed Wednesday it was the home where the alleged fraud was reported.
Police initially estimated the alleged fraud was around $50,000, but later said it exceeded that amount significantly.
Investigators now believe the amount is more than $190,000, nearly four times the initial estimate, impacting 26 people, though the exact number of residents affected has not been disclosed.
The name of the Tillsonburg resident charged with one count of fraud over $5,000 has not been released due to concerns for their well-being, police stated.
In addition to the fraud allegations, Trillium Care Norwich was already under scrutiny due to its sudden closure.
The facility closed abruptly on Nov. 11, 2024, just two weeks after notifying residents and their families, leaving many elderly residents in need of new accommodations.
An email sent to residents and their family members indicated that the cause for the closure was "an emergency lack of financial resources necessary to sustain daily operations," though it is unclear if the alleged fraud is connected to the closure.
As of Oct. 28, shortly after the closure announcement, the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority reported Trillium housed 18 residents.
Anyone who knows someone associated with the home who may have lost money is urged to contact Oxford OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
