The DRPS Financial Crimes Unit executed multiple search warrants and made numerous arrests under Project Navigator, which focused on vehicle finance frauds in Durham Region and the GTA.
Investigators from the Financial Crimes Unit recognized an increase in frauds that were being committed by using stolen identity information and obtaining a vehicle through fraudulent financial loan applications. The vehicles obtained were mostly newer or high-end motor vehicles, such as Mercedes-Benz, Land Rovers, Audi, BMW, Toyota, Lexus and Ford. Investigators worked closely with automobile dealerships within the GTA to look for these fraudulent transactions using new fraud-detection devices, said a police statement.
Project Navigator ran from October 2020 to February 4, and partnered with numerous agencies both in Canada and the United States, specifically the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Customs & Border Protection (CBP).
Durham Regional Police and York Regional Police engaged in a collaborative effort to successfully end this crime spree and arrest several fraud suspects. Most of the suspects arrested resided within the Durham Region and the GTA.
Durham Regional Police Service executed simultaneous search warrants in concert with York Regional Police during Project Navigator, and below are the results:
– 16 accused – including a salesperson at a dealership.
– 431 criminal code charges
– $2,867,760 fraud loss of vehicles
– 48 vehicles identified as fraudulently obtained from car dealerships
– 19 vehicles identified as exported from Canada
– 4 vehicles recovered with a value of $235,144
Investigators urge that the wanted parties retain counsel and turn themselves in to their nearest police facility.
Anyone with new information about this investigation is asked to contact the DRPS Financial Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5230.