During the summer of 2017, Steve proposed that I meet his business partner, Pasqualino (Pat) Cersosimo, claiming that Pat was a seasoned general contractor with a successful history of building houses and commercial properties. He mentioned that Pat was seeking an investor for an eight-unit building project in Repentigny. Intrigued, I brought along a friend who works in real estate, and we met Steve and Pat at a restaurant to discuss the potential investment. They took us to the site where the building was planned emphasizing the need for an initial cash investment to kickstart the project. After careful consideration, we ultimately decided that this opportunity wasn’t right for us and opted not to invest. Despite our decision, Steve continued to press me about another investment opportunity involving Pat’s new Project at 3 Boulevard Chambery in Blainville, Quebec. This time, he claimed that pat needed an investor for another eight-unit building, which would cost around $2 million and be exclusively rental condos. I repeatedly explained to Steve that this was far beyond my financial capacity, firmly declining his offer each time.
Interestingly, while Steve was discussing these so-called “deals” with me, it was clear he was also targeting others in the neighborhood. One of those individuals was a neighbor who lived a few houses down from me on des Alismas street in Laval. I often noticed Steve spending time at their place, and he seemed to have developed a close friendship with her. This woman whose name I will keep confidential for now, appeared to be quite affluent, as evidenced by her husband’s ownership of a Ferrari and her own driving of a luxurious Porsche. Following her husband’s recent passing, Steve frequently visited her under the guise of offering assistance, likely taking on various off jobs around her home, all while concealing his true intentions. During one of our conversations outside, Steve mentioned to me that the neighbor’s brother had invested a staggering $300k in Pat’s real estate venture in Rosemere. It became apparent that they were using the same pitch on her that they had used on me, claiming she would see substantial returns if she invested in Pat’s project. Trusting Steve implicitly, she allowed her brother to hand over the $300k to Pat, but shockingly, they have yet to see a return on that “investment”, even 10 years later! This situation highlights the manipulative tactics employed by Steve and Pat, as they preyed on the trust of those around them. I later reached out to this woman directly, she had a wealth of information to share about her experience and the deceptions she faced at the hands of Steve and Pat. Her story is a cautionary tale of misplaced trust and the consequences of being drawn into a fraudulent scheme.
As I gather more details, it becomes increasingly clear that her situation is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a larger pattern of exploitation that warrants further investigation.
Steve informed me that his brother was eager to discuss a lucrative gold opportunity in Uganda, suggesting that there was significant profit to be made. He proposed arranging a meeting with his brother, Reginald D’Sousa, and I agreed, thinking it would be worthwhile to hear what they had to say. This led us to a meeting at Madison restaurant in St-Dorothee, Laval, during the summer of 2017, where Reginald, Steve and I gathered to explore the potential of this venture. As we settled in, Reginald began to explain that he owned a gold mine in Uganda but he was facing challenges due to broken excavation equipment. He expressed a pressing need for financial assistance to either purchase or rent new machinery, quoting a price of $150k for outright purchase or $60k per month to rent this machinery. Reginald was confident that once he resumed digging, he would quickly extract gold and no longer require external support, emphasizing the abundance of gold on his land and the imminent wealth it would bring. To bolster his claims, he provided me with the contact information of a friend who had accompanied him to Uganda to assess the site. Feeling cautious yet intrigued, I reached out to this friend, whose name escapes me, to verify Reginald’s assertions. He confirmed that he had indeed tested the grounds and found gold during their exploration. Meanwhile, both Reginal and Steve were quite insistent, urging me to invest in this venture, painting a picture of immense wealth that awaited us once the gold extraction began. Their enthusiasm was palpable, and it was clear they believed this opportunity could lead to significant financial gain for all involved. I met with Reginald and Steve again at Madisons, where I inquired about proof of land ownership and other related documents. After careful consideration, I ultimately concluded that this opportunity was not suitable for me, and I expressed my disinterest to them.
On another occasion, while I was outside conversing with Steve, he received a phone call and began discussing an upcoming gold transaction set to take place in the following days. Curious, I asked for more details, and he explained that Pat Cersosimo had invested $400k usd, transferring the funds to Omar Haniff’s bank account in Uganda. Omar Haniff is the brother in law of Reginald D’Souza. Steve spoke confidently about the deal, suggesting it was practically finalized and that they were poised to make substantial profits. He mentioned that Omar and Reginald had extensive connections in Uganda, and the transaction was expected to occur very soon. Eager to learn more, I requested additional information about the deal, and Steve offered to arrange a meeting with Reginald and Omar, which he did. We ended up having 3 meetings in total; the first two took place in my backyard, while the final one was at a Tim Horton’s in St-Dorothee. During these discussions, Reginald and Omar painted a picture of a guaranteed deal, emphasizing that all that was needed was a trip to Uganda to complete the gold transaction. They assured me that once the initial deal was executed, it would lead to further profitable transactions, and if I joined them, I would also benefit financially. They insisted that the operation was entirely legal, claiming they would be purchasing legitimate gold from Ugandan sellers and reselling it in Dubai. To get started, they indicated that I would need to invest approximately $90k usd, with the promise that subsequent deals would finance themselves through the profits, which would be shared among the four of us: Myself, Omar, Reginald and Steve.
Omar and Reginald informed me that the transaction would be a swift process, promising completion within a week. They claimed to have established connections with gold sellers in Uganda and buyers in Dubai, which would streamline the entire operation. Our role would simply involve visiting the buyers to inspect the gold, ensuring its purity with the tools they possessed, and then arranging for its transport to the airport for a direct flight to Dubai. They mentioned having reliable contacts in Uganda, including a trusted friend and a lawyer, who would facilitate the process, emphasizing that everything was already in place for a quick turnaround. They urged me to make a prompt decision, as they were concerned that the gold seller might find another buyer, necessitating an urgent transfer of funds to Omar Haniff’s personal bank account in Uganda. Curious about their track record, I asked Omar how many successful transactions they had completed. He claimed there had been two, but I later discovered that this was a fabrication; they had not completed any transaction at all. It became evident that the entire scheme was likely a ruse designed to swindle individuals out of their money to settle their own debts. During one of our meetings, I brought along a friend of mine, to gauge his perspective and see if he would consider sharing the investment costs with me, as I had been led to believe in the legitimacy of their claims. My friend however, quickly saw through their façade and opted not to invest. His skepticism highlighted the red flags I had originally overlooked, and it became clear that Omar and Reginald were not trustworthy. Their insistence on urgency and the lack of verifiable success stories raised significant doubts about their intensions, ultimately leading me to reconsider my involvement.
During our final meeting, Omar Haniff made it clear that if I ever felt uneasy about the gold transaction, I could request a refund, and he would return my money immediately, without any hesitation. This straightforward assurance provided me with a sense of security as we navigated the complexities of the deal. Throughout our discussions, Steve had mentioned some complications surrounding Pat’s $400k gold transaction, prompting me to seek clarification from Omar and Reginald regarding the situation. They acknowledged that there were indeed issues with those transactions, but reassured me that they were currently involved in legal proceedings in Uganda. They claimed that they would recover not only their initial investment but also additional funds, as the court had seized the assets of the gold seller. Omar and Reginald explained that once the judge awarded them the land and property, they planned to conduct a fire sale to expedite the recovery of their money. They also shared that they had gained valuable insights from Pat’s transaction, which would help them avoid similar pitfalls in the future. To further enhance their operations, they had established their own company in Uganda, allowing them to handle gold transactions directly without relying on third parties. This strategic move was intended to streamline their processes and mitigate risks associated with external involvement. Despite my initial reservations, I found their narrative compelling and ultimately decided to invest $90k usd in the venture. However I stipulated one crucial condition: I would accompany them to Uganda for the transaction. This arrangement meant that if I felt uncomfortable at any point, the deal would be halted, and my funds would remain secure, not discoursed to anyone else. They agreed to this condition, which gave me a sense of control over the investment and the assurance that my interests would be protected throughout the process.
Everything began to unravel the moment I transferred my funds to Omar’s bank account in Uganda. After wiring my money, I inquired about booking our flights to Uganda, only to be met with the shocking revelation that neither Omar or Reginald had any money for their plane tickets. They insisted that I cover the cost of their flights, claiming they were unable to travel for the gold transaction without my financial support. Despite my growing concerns, they assured me that the deal was secure and that I would receive my investment back along with profits from the gold transaction within a week. Reluctantly, I agreed to pay for their plane tickets as well as my own. Reginald was the first to depart for Uganda, under the guise of meeting with the gold sellers and securing the deal until Omar and I arrived. He promised to provide proof of funds to the sellers and confirm that everything was in order before we took our flights. After about a week, Omar and I finally booked our tickets and made our way to Uganda. Upon arrival, I was immediately struck by the roughness of the environment, which heightened my sense of unease. I decided it would be best for me to remain at the hotel while Omar and Reginald conducted their meetings with the sellers, hoping to hear back from them soon. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse from that point onward. After their meeting, Omar expressed his discomfort with the sellers, voicing concerns about the safety of my investment. He reassured me that they had other contacts and planned to hold additional meetings in the coming days to explore potential deals. However, the initial confidence in the transaction quickly faded, and the situation became increasingly uncertain. Days passed without any progress, and feeling unsafe and frustrated, I made the decision to leave Uganda after a week. I informed Omar and Reginald of my departure, urging them to keep me updated on any developments. Shortly after I left, Omar followed suit and took a flight back as well.
When I inquired about the situation, he explained that he was struggling to locate reliable sellers and was facing complications with the necessary paperwork. He assured me that he would resolve these issues and return to complete the gold transaction. Meanwhile, Reggie remained in Uganda, where he had taken up residence in a hotel. After a couple of weeks, Omar reached out to inform me that he was finally prepared to return to Uganda and finalize the gold deal. This meant I had to purchase yet another plane ticket for him to make the trip back. He reassured me that all the paperwork was not in order and that the transaction would definitely go through this time. With his promise of a successful deal, I went ahead and paid for his flight once more, only for him to return empty-handed yet again. Upon his return, he provided yet another excuse, citing issues with the paperwork as the reason for the failed transaction. He insisted that he needed to address these problems and planned to return to Uganda again! But once again the outcome was the same: no deal.
My patience was wearing thin as I realized that the situation was far from what I had been initially promised. I had been assured that it was a “done deal” and that I would receive my funds within a week. Frustrated, I informed Omar that I wanted him to return my money. He claimed that he attempted to wire it back through his bank, Barclays, but supposedly encountered issues. BULLSHIT of course. This explanation seemed implausible to me; if I could send him the money, then surely he could return it through an established international bank like Barclays. In a bid to expedite the process, I suggested that I would cover the cost of his flight to Uganda so he could retrieve my money in person as a draft check. However, Omar continue to provide excuses, stating that he couldn’t travel because his wife was unwell.
This back and forth went on for MONTHS.
Over time, Omar spun a web of deceit, feeding me a myriad of fabricated stories and dubious deals, likely in an attempt to stall for time while he squandered my money. Despite his elaborate tales, the reality was stark: my funds had vanished, consumed by his reckless spending. It became increasingly clear that I had been misled, as he and his associates essentially siphoned off my money to settle their own debts, showing little regard for the impact on me. Ultimately, I resolved to take legal action against Omar Haniff. After and arduous two-year battle filled with legal consultations, testimonies, and the gathering of evidence, we finally secured a court date set for October 17 & 18, 2022. In his defence, Omar claimed he was merely following orders from Reginald D’Sousa, attempting to distance himself from the situation an evade responsibility. My investigation into Omar’s financial situation revealed a troubling picture; he is deeply in debt, owing hundreds of thousands to banks and the government. It appears he may be exploiting victims like myself to cover his everyday expenses and avoid losing his home in the West Island, which is likely valued over 1 million dollars. For context, he and his wife reside at 747 Salaberry Boulevard in Kirkland. A location that underscores the disparity between his lifestyle and the financial ruin he has caused for others.
This imaginary “gold transaction” ultimately resulted in a financial loss of around $150k Canadian.
Finally, we settled before we got to court but I’m unable to divulge the settlement information since I had to sign a document to keep it confidential.
This experience has been both costly and challenging, leaving me with significant lessons learned from the ordeal.