Canadian man stuck in triangle of e-commerce fraud

Canadian criminal/arrest records and employment

• Several commenters are surprised that in Canada an accessible “criminal record” can reflect arrests/charges, not just convictions, and that non‑conviction records can still hurt employment and travel.
• Some note this is similar in parts of the US (applications asking about arrests; records persisting even after acquittal), though some US jurisdictions allow expungement.
• Others point out Canadian processes exist to destroy non‑conviction information, but they are not automatic, can be denied without explanation, and are confusing in practice.

Comparisons with other legal systems

• Examples from Brazil and parts of Europe highlight stricter limits on disclosing criminal history and on employers asking for it.
• There is debate over whether Canada’s Charter and jurisprudence provide protections comparable to or weaker than US constitutional rights, especially around evidence obtained unlawfully and “reasonable limits” under Charter s.1.

RCMP conduct, systemic issues, and racism

• Many see the case as emblematic of RCMP incompetence or overreach, particularly in white‑collar/online fraud.
• Multiple commenters connect this to a broader pattern of poor treatment of Indigenous communities and cite historical and recent abuses; others caution against asserting racism from this case alone but agree the pattern is well documented.
• Some describe RCMP staffing practices (new or problematic officers sent to remote posts) as structurally encouraging bad outcomes.

Talking to police and right to counsel

• Repeated advice: do not speak to police without a lawyer, and often not even then.
• Discussion contrasts US “plead the Fifth” and lawyer‑present norms with Canadian rules: right to consult counsel, but typically only once by phone; no right to have a lawyer in the interrogation room; suspects can still be questioned afterward.
• Canadian law sometimes compels testimony but bars use of compelled self‑incriminating evidence in later proceedings; critics argue this still leads to coerced statements and weak practical protections.

Triangle (triangulation) e‑commerce fraud

• Commenters explain the fraud pattern:
  – Victim A orders from a marketplace seller (e.g., Amazon 3P).
  – Fraudster uses stolen credentials/card of victim B (e.g., hacked Walmart account) to ship directly to A.
  – Fraudster gets clean money from the platform, B disputes charges, merchant/platform eats loss; A appears to be the thief.
• Delivery and ID‑verification providers report seeing attempts to use their services for this, and sometimes police show little interest even when evidence is strong.

Responsibility of Amazon, Walmart, banks

• Many argue the core problem is marketplace design: weak seller vetting, rapid payouts, and poor controls on adding new shipping addresses.
• Suggestions include stronger 2FA on account changes, CVV re‑entry for new addresses, and greater liability on card networks or platforms.
• Some note that while credit cards nominally protect consumers, merchants and intermediaries still bear large losses, enabling scams like this to remain profitable.

Credit card and authentication security

• Commenters question why online card payments rely on easily leaked static data (number/expiry/CVV), with optional address checks.
• EU‑style 3D Secure and bank‑app 2FA are cited as better, but not universal; some Canadians report SMS‑based 2FA, others say virtual cards are largely unavailable from major Canadian banks.
• There’s debate over the “optimal amount of fraud” idea: low friction increases sales, so institutions tolerate non‑zero fraud.

Work, volunteers, and personal exposure

• Several stress never using personal cards or addresses for work purchases; insist on corporate cards or prepayment.
• Volunteers (e.g., in churches) describe being pushed to blend personal resources and identities with organizational roles, making them vulnerable if something goes wrong.

Legal limbo, stays, and remedies

• The stayed charge leaves the subject unable to clear his name yet still burdened by an arrest record; commenters call this a serious design flaw.
• Others note that in Canada stayed proceedings are deemed never commenced after a set period, and non‑conviction data can then sometimes be destroyed—but this is complex and not automatic.
• Some call for easier civil remedies and statutory compensation when police or prosecutors cause serious harm through botched cases.