More than 200 charges laid in Canadian fraud case

An investigation that included the Durham Regional Police Service Fraud Unit and the OPP’s Identity Crimes Unit across Canada on Identity theft has resulted in the capture of six people.

When several financial institutions reported that an organized crime group from British Columbia had moved east to Toronto, Project Morgan began. The crime organization used the credit histories of innocent victims to obtain credit cards under the names of real and fictitious persons. That information was sent to post office boxes across the Greater Toronto Area which the suspects would use to buy products and services. When it came to the fictitious names, the group made up a credit history that would appear that the 'person' had recently come to Canada. Those victims whose true identities were stolen reside across Canada. The group would maintain accounts for months or years slowly building up a credit line. Once the credit line was high enough they would make cash advances at ATMs. The group would then use a fraudulent cheque to replenish the account before draining it again by cash advances. It is believed that this group has been in operation in Ontario and British Columbia since 2000. On March 3 seven search warrants went out in Pickering, Ajax, Oshawa and Toronto and resulted in the arrest of six persons. Over 200 charges were laid and over $250,000 in property and cash was seized. Investigators are now applying to seize seven properties in Toronto, Ajax and Oshawa under Proceeds of Crime legislation worth over $1.5 million. All six made their first court appearance in Oshawa on March 4. They will appear again on March 8 for bail hearings in Oshawa. Those arrested reside in Ajax and Toronto. This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact Detective Jeff Caplan of the DRPS Fraud Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5702 or Detective Sergeant Rob Krzyzaniak of the OPP Identity Crimes Unit at 1-905-671-6878. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or on the website at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters are eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.