A Dartmouth woman allegedly forged sick notes and a death certificate to get paid leave and donations from a fundraiser organized by co-workers.
The 47-year-old woman now faces more than 50 fraud-related charges, according to a news release from police.
Halifax Regional Police got a report on Aug. 15 that a hardware store worker in Lower Sackville committed fraud. RCMP learned that between 2021 and August 2024, the employee forged multiple sick notes and the death certificate of a loved one.
The employee’s co-workers organized a fundraiser in the wake of the fictitious death, police say.
RCMP and Halifax Regional Police found and arrested the woman outside of a home on Joseph Young Street.
They found IDs with five different names on her person when she was arrested.
Officers searched her home with a warrant later that day and seized several medical documents, mobile devices, IDs and an unsecured rifle.
Her charges include:
- 16 counts of fraud under $5000
- 19 counts of property obtained by crime
- 20 counts of using or having forged documents
- False pretence (intentionally misrepresenting a fact, with fraudulent intent, to get someone to act on that fact)
- Unsafe storage of a gun
- Unauthorized possession of a gun
- Possessing a gun and knowing its possession is unauthorized
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (19 counts)
- Use or Possession of Forged Documents (20 counts)
She appeared in court Thursday and was remanded into custody.
The investigation continues.
