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Massive scam based on stolen debit card
info
Possible Tamil Tigers link probed
By TOM GODFREY, Courtesy
TORONTO SUN
31 Division Det. Sgt. Stephen Craddock shows one of the debit machines
used to pinch financial data in Mississauga. (Dave Thomas, Sun)
Five accused Sri Lankan gang members are behind bars in connection with
a massive fraud scam that police suspect may have bilked thousands of
Mississauga residents.
"This was a highly organized and sophisticated ring," Det.
Steve Craddock of 31 Division said yesterday.
"We are interested in what the money was being used for."
The men were arrested near Keele St.-Finch Ave. W. on Saturday. Craddock
said two suspects were nabbed after a long footchase.
He said the arrests followed the seizure of a palm-sized debit machine
that has been illegally in use since May at a branch of a restaurant
chain located in a busy mall.
MACHINE REMOVED
Detectives refused to identify the restaurant or mall due to an ongoing
probe. "The machine was removed from a mall in a highly populated
area of Mississauga," Craddock said. "There is a potential
of thousands of residents being affected."
Police said the machine captured -- for both the restaurant and fraudsters
-- customers' credit card and debit numbers and PINs.
Craddock said officers found more than 20 bogus cards -- created using
stolen data -- and $4,000 in cash after searching the suspects.
Detectives are now probing the trail of stolen cash to determine whether
loot was sent to Sri Lanka for the Tamil Tigers terrorist group.
"With recent events in the world we have to be vigilant and concerned
about where money is going," Craddock said.
RESIDENTS WARNED
The arrests follow the RCMP-FBI roundup of 13 suspected Tamil Tigers
-- including six Canadians -- who were allegedly trying to purchase
rocket launchers, missiles, truck launchers, night goggles and other
gear.
Police are warning Mississauga residents to check their bank and credit
card statements carefully to avoid losses.
"Residents should keep a close eye on their bank balances,"
Craddock said. "If there are any discrepancies, they should notify
the bank or police."
Charged with 25 fraud- related offences are Ganeshananthan Mahadevan,
36, Thuthikaran "Thuthy" Thurapalasingam, 26, Tharmaraj Nagularajah,
26, Thubaran Subas, 22, and Kishokanth Tharmapalan, 26.
The men appeared in Old City Hall court yesterday and their cases were
adjourned until this week.
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