Belle River resident one of 12 people arrested by Toronto police in $4M fake ID scheme
‘Project Déjà Vu’ was launched in October 2022 after a financial institution reported fake accounts created by a former employee.
Toronto Police describe the crimes as “synthetic-identity credit fraud scheme.”
“They’re essentially applying for unlimited amounts of credit in fictional synthetic names,” Toronto Police Service Det. David Coffee said Monday during a news conference.
Coffee said the crimes started back in 2016 and police believe more than 680 fake identities were created since then.
Toronto police allege “hundreds” of bank and credit accounts were created at various banks and financial institutions across Ontario.
“The fraudulently-obtained credit accounts were then drawn upon by way of in-store and online purchases, cash withdrawals, or electronic fund transfers,” said Coffee. “In many cases, fraudulent payments were made into the credit account to allow them to be drawn beyond their defined limits.”
According to police, the crimes have lead to “confirmed losses” of approximately $4 million.
“This isn’t just about fraud,” Coffee said. “Accounts obtained under synthetic identities are know to facilitate other serious criminal offences including the laundering of proceeds derived from human trafficking, drug trafficking and armed robbery among other serious crimes.”
After using 20 search warrants, police seized several dozen fake documents, including government ID, and electronic templates to create false identifications.
They also seized $300,000 in Canadian and foreign cash along with hundreds of debit and credit cards.
Mian Muhammad Saud, 35, who police identified as being from Belle River, is charged with fraud over $5,000, laundering proceeds of crime and possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000.
Of the 11 other suspects, seven are from Brampton, with the remaining from Ayr, Caledon, Mississauga, Markham.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Police say the investigation is not over.
“We believe there are other people who are complicit in this scheme and we are working to identify them. We also believe there may be additional incidents and victims,” said Coffee.
Police are releasing the images of everybody who was arrested and are encouraging businesses owners to look through them, and report any suspicious purchases or credit applications.
Coffee said fraudulent transactions might have also been conducted through online buy and sell platforms.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING 120 active fires burning across Canada, 30 are 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
BREAKING B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
Legislative speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, alleges he faced threats, harassment from gov't MLAs
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
A Toronto man killed his mother and decapitated her. His lawyers argue it wasn't murder
A ‘lifetime of abuse’ led Dallas Ly to snap and repeatedly stab his mother inside their Leslieville apartment in 2022 but he never intended to kill her, his defence lawyers argued during his murder trial in Toronto on Thursday.
Father charged with second-degree murder in daughter's stabbing death southwest of Montreal
A father has been charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his 34-year-old daughter in southern Quebec.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
The latest advice for expecting parents? Sign up for childcare as soon as you're pregnant
Canada's new $10-a-day child care program is expanding, but there's growing evidence that demand for the program is rising even faster, leaving many parents on the outside looking in.