Bedford man subject of fraud, theft complaints from neighbours

A group of Bedford residents claim they are the victims of a convicted fraudsterlivingin their neighbourhoodwho is now facing multiple charges in the Halifax area and Annapolis Valley.

People who live in the Basinview Drive area say the trouble began when Scott Lee Gray moved into the community earlier this year.

Parents whose children attend nearby Basinview Drive Community School said the 41-year-old man began showing up on the playground and introduced himself as a police officer.

Gray, whose two children attend the school, also spoke about his numerous rental properties and a number of small businesses he said he owns, recalls Tracy Murphy.

"He told us all kinds of stories," Murphy says. "We believed him, after all he was an RCMP officer and his kids went to our school. He was very slick in his con."

Fraud charges

Itturns outGray was convicted of fraud in 2011 and received a conditional sentence. He's alsofacing nineother charges of fraud related tocases in Halifax, Dartmouth andKentville.

Murphy and her husband, Eric Murphy,claim they lost thousands of dollars to Gray.

Eric Murphy,who runs a heating and air conditioning business, ordered $14,000 worth of heat pumps to be installed in some of the 45 properties Gray said he owned. The man picked up the order, Eric Murphy said, and he never saw the equipment or his money again.

Eric Murphy said he spent many hours trying to collect money from Gray and heard endless excuses, ending up with three bad cheques.

He says his experience trying to have charges laid against the man was also stressful. He first went to police in June.

"There isn't a lot of movement on the police's part," he says. "I explained myself to a number of police officers, filled out statements."

He said he supplied police with copies of his business contract with Gray and the bad cheques returned by the bank. Murphy says he's been told the investigation continues.

Then the excuses started

Karen Sproule claims she also fell victim toGray.Sproule moved to Toronto four months ago to take a new job.

She decided not to take her vehicle, a 2011 Ford Edge, and parked it at Bedford Highway address with a For Sale sign on it.

She claims she was contacted by Gray, who told her he owned a towing company and could help her sell the vehicle.

Sproule said after speaking with the man, she believed he was a legitimate businessman. After the so-called sale, she said she waited for the money to be sent.

Then the excuses started.

"He would say 'it's on the way,' or 'I'm just going to the bank now," Sproule said.

She says after dozens of promises, broken deadlines for payment and no-shows at meetings, it finally sank in that her car was gone as well as the money she gave Gray for the repairs.

Sproule filed a complaint with Halifax police and a charge of fraud has been laid against Gray in her case.

She also published notices on Facebook and Kijiji Halifax, warning against dealing with Gray.

No car, no money

After connecting with Sproule via social media, Gerry and Roberta Morrison say theywere shocked to find out how connected their cases were.

"He tried to sell Karen's car to us," Roberta Morrison said.

In the end, the Morrisons agreed to buy another car from Gray. They gave him more than$10,000 and have yet to get the car or their money, Gerry Morrison said.

They've also filed a complaint with police. At this point, nocharges have been laid.

Gerry Morrison said they believed Gray because he told them he was a police officer.

"We believed him. He is the best liar I have ever met. It is shocking because my husband doesn't trust many people," RobertaMorrisonsaid.

The couple trackedSproule'scar to a MiddleSackvilledealership. The vehicle has since been returned to the woman.

"I feel stupid, but so does everyone else that got taken in by him,"Sproulesaid.

CBC News contacted Gray on Monday and Tuesday, but he declined to be interviewed for this story. When asked if any of the accusations are founded, he replied, "No." He confirmed he is not a current or retired police officer.

In the meantime, Sproule says she wants others to be aware of what she calls Gray's troubling behavior.

"This guy has been operating around here for a long time."