Joint force operation leads to arrests for debit card fraud

TORONTO , Jan. 22 /CNW/ - The continuing joint force partnership to combat credit debit and credit card frauds between the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) - Identity Crimes Unit and Durham Regional Police Major Crime - Fraud Unit (DRPS) has resulted in the arrest of seven males and two females for point-of-sale terminal "pin pad" tampering.

The investigation which began in the Parry Sound area in November 2009 identified a group of suspects who were responsible for numerous incidents of credit card terminal tampering across the Greater Toronto area and Ontario. The investigation determined these suspects were also responsible for the use of the fraudulent debit card data collected from the tampered "pin pads". The suspects targeted various retail establishments which conduct credit and debit card transactions without the knowledge of the various retailers.

On January 21, 2010 investigators from the OPP OCEB-Identity Crimes Unit and Durham Regional Police assisted by Peel Regional Police, Toronto Police and Canada Border Services executed nine search warrants across the Greater Toronto area. As a result of the warrants, investigators arrested nine persons and seized stolen point-of-sale terminal "pin pads", hundreds of forged debit cards encoded with stolen debit card data, computer equipment used to encode magnetic stripes and over $100,000 in cash.

Investigators have laid charges under the new Identity Theft legislation brought into Canadian law on January 8, 2010 .

Police along with the banking industry continue to work together to detect and prevent these crimes, which cost hundreds of millions of dollars in losses each year in Canada .

Charged in relation to this offence are:

Sanjeevan BALACHANDRASRI, male, 22 years old of Toronto is charged with Fraud Over $5000 , Theft Under $5000 , Possession of Property Obtained By Crime, Unauthorized Use of Credit Card Data, Participate in a Criminal Organization, Conspiracy To Commit an Indictable Offence, Unauthorized Possession of Credit Card Data, Possess Instruments For Forging Credit Cards, Theft of a Credit Card, Purposely Possess Identification Information and Breach of Undertaking.

Thijeepan THIRUGNANASAMBANTHAM, male, 19 years old of Brampton is charged with Fraud Over $5000 , Theft Under $5000 , Possession of Property Obtained By Crime, Unauthorized Use of Credit Card Data, Participate in a Criminal Organization, Conspiracy To Commit an Indictable Offence, Unauthorized Possession of Credit Card Data, Possess Instruments For Forging Credit Cards, Theft of a Credit Card and Purposely Possess Identification Information.

Yokeswaran SUBRAMANIUM, male, 23 years old of Toronto is charged with Fraud over $5000 , Theft under $5000 , Participate in a Criminal Organization, Conspiracy To Commit An Indictable Offence, Unlawful Possession of Credit Card Data and Purposely Possess Identification Information.

Dhwani Mukund PATEL, female, 19 years old of Toronto is charged with Fraud Over $5000 , Theft Under $5000 , Participate in a Criminal Organization and Conspiracy To Commit an Indictable Offence.

Thayalan SINNARASA, male, 31 years old of Brampton is charged with Fraud over $5000 , Theft under $5000 , Participate in a Criminal Organization, Unlawful Possession of Credit Card Data and Purposely Possess Identification Information.

Sanraj BALACHANDRASRI, male, 21 years old of Toronto is charged with Fraud over $5000 , Participate in a Criminal Organization and Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence.

Selvaruban MARKANDU, male, 36 years old of Brampton is charged with Fraud over $5000 , Participate in a Criminal Organization, Conspiracy to commit and Indictable Offence and Breach of Probation.

Balasubramaniam BALACHANDRASRI, male, 33 years old of Toronto is charged with Participation in a Criminal Organization and Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence.

Thayalan KAAYATHIRI, female, 19 years old of Toronto for Fraud Over $5000 , Unlawful Possession of Credit Card Data, Possess Instrument for Forging Credit Cards, Participate in a Criminal Organization and Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence.

Anyone with information in relation to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Doug Cousens of the OPP Identity Crimes Unit at 1-905-671-6883 or Detective Jeff Caplan of the DRPS Major Crime - Fraud Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5702.

Police caution the public to always be alert and aware when using their respective bank debit cards.

Anonymous information can be sent to Crime Stoppers where tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.

For further information: Inspector Don Perron, Ontario Provincial Police, Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, [phone], www.opp.ca