Vancouver Island man charged with impersonating Fort McMurray evacuee

A man facing charges for allegedly impersonating a Fort McMurray evacuee is actually from Vancouver Island, B.C., the RCMP has revealed.

Earlier this month Darryl Rondeau, 45, allegedly told residents of Claresholm, Alberta, that he and his girlfriend had lost everything in the Fort McMurray fire.

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The town welcomed the couple with open arms, and locals pitched in to buy them clothes, give them free meals in restaurants and even put them up in an RV in the town's campsite.

But after a few days, policestarted to notice some elements of their story didn't add up and Rondeau was charged with fraud under $5,000.

RCMP Cpl. Dalyn Orsten said the first red flag was that Rondeau did not register with the Red Cross. Police say the investigation is continuing and more charges will likely be laid.

B.C. court records showDarryl Lincoln Rondeau, born in 1970, was convicted in March of possession of stolen property under $5,000 in the Victoria suburb of Oak Bay. That conviction relates to a charge from January of this year.

AFacebook page for Lincoln Darryl Rondeau, lists his home as Fort McMurray, Alberta and says he is from Duncan, B.C., a community north of Victoria on Vancouver Island.

CBC News attempted to contact Rondeau but did not hear back from him.