Photo courtesy of the Halton Police
An arrest has been made in a SIM swap scam that’s been operating around Halton.
In February, the Halton Regional Police Investigation (HRPS) began a three month long investigation labelled Project Buff. They identified a fraud network operating within the region and the surrounding area.
On Thursday, April 18th, two male suspects were arrested and charged with multiple offences.
Following up on investigative leads, a third suspect was identified and a search warrant was sought.
On Thursday, May 2nd, a search warrant was executed at an apartment in Toronto.
As a result of the search warrant, the following items were located and seized by police:
- 200 counterfeit identity documents (Drivers Licenses, SIN Cards and Birth Certificates)
- Notebooks and Portfolios containing personal identifying information
Investigators identified 136 victims who had their identity compromised.
As a result of the investigation, 60-year-old Michael O’Hara has been charged with the following:
- Fraud Over $5,000 (three counts)
- Personation with Intent (three counts)
- Possess Counterfeit Mark (three counts)
- Failure to Comply with Release Order (three counts)
O’Hara has been released on an undertaking with an upcoming court date scheduled for Tuesday, May 21st in Milton.
The investigation is ongoing and further charges are expected.
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