Calgary man faces fraud charge in vehicle shipping scheme

A Calgary man has been charged with vehicle fraud after allegedly offering to ship a damaged vehicle to Africa so the owners could report it stolen.

Police say they were approached in late 2012 by people claiming they had been solicited by a body shop employee.

It is alleged the man offered to ship vehicles that had been in collisions to another country so that the owner could report it stolen in order to claim insurance or cancel a loan.

After using a variety of investigative techniques, a man was charged and police were able to intercept the vehicle before it was shipped.

The accused faces one count each of fraud over $5,000 and counselling to commit an indictable offence.

The investigation is ongoing.