Uxbridge taxidermist arrested for insurance fraud involving exotic animals

[spcamno]

Not sure anybody has their Trophy with this organization waiting to be mounted perhaps check with the status and decide what you want to do.

https://www.durhamradionews.com/archives/182441

Below copied and pasted from the article above:
Durham police have arrested a man in connection with an insurance fraud involving exotic animals.

On September 11, 2023, police were contacted by an insurance company about multiple claims filed by Artistry in Motion Taxidermy, that they believed to be fraudulent.

They said the owner of the business purchased deceased exotic animals such as tigers, lions and monkeys, after they died of natural causes, for use as art pieces.

In May of 2022, the owner made a claim to the insurance company for a weather-related failure of his refrigeration system, which he claimed resulted in a financial loss of over $500,000 of animals.

In June of 2023, the owner made a second claim to the insurance company for another refrigeration system failure, which he claimed resulted in a financial loss of over $700,000 of animals.

Police say after an investigation into zoos, ranches, and safaris both in Canada and in Africa, named by the suspect, it was revealed that the suspect had fraudulently produced purchase invoices, created fictitious zoos and safaris, and inflated the value of the deceased animals.

Cyril D’Souza, 65 from Uxbridge is charged with: Fraud Over $5000 x2, and Utter Forged Document x2.

He was released on an Undertaking.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact D/Cst. Tisi of the Financial Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5729 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

[finsfurfeathers]

Wow file1.2 million in damages and you don't think some adjuster isn't going to show up and say "show me the monkey".

[C.F.]

That guy is a dirt bag and has a list of previous incidents that can be found on google. I spoke to him about doing some mounts from Africa and he certainly didn’t make me feel comfortable.

[Markster]

“Show me the monkey” lol - priceless

[trimmer21]

Wow file1.2 million in damages and you don't think some adjuster isn't going to show up and say "show me the monkey".

After insurance claims investigating during my working career,I'm surprised it took two claims before someone twigged to the fact the guy was scamming them. Some company needs to hire better staff.

[Gilroy]

After insurance claims investigating during my working career,I'm surprised it took two claims before someone twigged to the fact the guy was scamming them. Some company needs to hire better staff.

I simple goggle search would reveal multiple past wildlife offences for this individual over many, many years.

So I have actually meet this guy and I am talking way back probably in the lates 1980,s.

At that time he was working full time for the OPP garage down in their headquarters which was on Lakeshore and Jarvis Street. He was a civilian technician out fitting the OPP cars with radios and other electronic equipment.

Actually went up to his home and saw his collection of exhibits, he used to arrange Polar bear hunts in Ontario and had access to permits back then, his business was called Out of Africa and this guy had everything from Tiger Skins to Zebra skins.

If I remember correctly he was a South African of Portuguese background , I think the family was either from Angola or Mozambique which was his connection to hosting hunts over there also.

Anyway very nice man at that time, appeared up front and straight forward but I was a bit dubious of the amount and variety of his mounts.

Should have been a slam dunk for any insurance investigator with their head screwed on properly.

I think at the time I could have bought a full Polar Bear rug off him for $1,100.00

Shame to see this from him.