14 DAY TRIAL // Seven people were arrested in Vancouver last week under suspicion of being members of an identity theft gang, that bought items from online auction sites using stolen credit card details.
An investigation was launched by the Combined Forces Identity Theft Team (CFITT) of the Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) after being alerted of the fraudulent purchases.
According to evidence, members of the criminal ring, who operated out of Vancouver, bid on auction sites with accounts created using the personal and financial information of other individuals.
The successfuly acquired products were shipped via courier to various addresses, from where they were picked up and resold as used goods on other websites. The total losses exceeded $129,000.
CFITT officers identified a Vancouver residence believed to be used as hideout by members of the fraud ring and enlisted the help of the Vancouver Police Department Identity Theft Unit (ITU).
Following a surveillance operation, the joint task force was able to obtain a search warrant and raid the house on September 28.
When the operation commenced, a 33-year-old man tried to flee the scene by jumping from a third story window on the roof of a nearby building, but the suspect was eventually caught.
Three females and two males, aged 21 to 28, were also detained at this location. A search of the place revealed equipment used in credit card fraud and identity theft, such as credit card magstripe writers, stolen IDs, fake passports, stolen mail, as well as fraudulently purchased goods.
Other evidence pointed to a secondary residence used by the gang. When learning that a female suspect was trying to clean the place out, police officers moved in to make an arrest.
Additional materials used in fraud were secured at this location and inside a van loaded by the woman, until the police arrived.
"This team was able to effectively stop a group who were potentially affecting thousands of victims and costing the payment card financial system a large amount of money," said Inspector Wade Lymburner of the Surrey RCMP, while praising the cooperation between law enforcement agencies in handling this case.