TORONTO, Jan. 24, 2012 /CNW/ - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Integrated Counterfeit Enforcement Team (ICET) cracked a major credit and debit card fraud ring on January 21, 2012. It is alleged the organization was responsible for the theft of credit and debit card data from unsuspecting victims throughout Canada. Investigators further advise the ring was allegedly "cloning" Pin Pads at local merchants throughout the GTA to obtain financial data. Data was then to be loaded on to blank or overwritten payment cards and utilized to fraudulently access cash from bank clients.
Debit and credit card losses attributed to fraud continue to remain at a high dollar value. The RCMP reminds Canadians to be vigilant in safeguarding their personal and financial information.
"With the assistance of York Regional Police Service, the ICET made these arrests," stated Acting Inspector Henry Tso of GTA Commercial Crime Unit. "Arrests such as these remain an important priority for the RCMP and law enforcement around the globe."
Charged with unlawful possession of Credit Card Data, Traffic in Credit Card Data and Commission of offence for criminal organization are Amine Cherif (20), Michael Haddad (19), George Minadakis (20), Youssef Akkouche (21) of Montreal, Hussein Eddine (24), Georges Ghossoub (19) of Laval and Regis Carre (24) of Dollard Des Ormeaux, Quebec. All are being held in custody awaiting a bail hearing scheduled for today at the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket, Ontario.
FRAUD - Recognize it, Report it, Stop it!
Sgt. Vance Morgan
GTA Commercial Crime Section
RCMP "O" Division
Office (905) 876-9526
Share this article