RCMP lay more than 100 additional fraud charges against N.S. woman

A Dartmouth, N.S., woman is facing more than 100 new fraud-related charges, on top of more than 50 charges RCMP laid against her last September.

Police accuse Alissa Kathryn MacGillivary of obtaining more than $100,000 under false pretences, including making false claims for compensation.

The charges include extortion, forgery and fraud.

"It is exceptional," RCMP Cpl. Guillaume Tremblay said Thursday. "I don't remember in my service or recall anyone facing that many fraud charges, especially here in Nova Scotia."

Police allege MacGillivary used more than 15 aliases, some of them fictitious but others the names of real people.

"I can tell you that there are actual human victims, so not just aliases that were made up," Tremblay said.

"Oftentimes in frauds, that would affect, at a minimal, your credit score. It could affect payments you have ongoing and affects your future, honestly."

MacGillivary worked at a building supply store in the Halifax area. Police allege she made false claims of injury or deaths of family members in order to garner sympathy and collect compensation.

The latest charges are based on hundreds of documents police seized in the summer when they laid the first batch of charges against her. Tremblay said police have identified eight individuals and organizations who were victims.

A bail hearing for MacGillivary came to an abrupt end Friday morning when the man who'd agreed to act as her surety backed out.

MacGillivary has agreed to remain in jail until her next court appearance in March.