12 Charged in Toronto Skimming Scam

12 Charged in Toronto Skimming Scam
International Ties Suspected in ATM, Pay-at-the-Pump Fraud

Canadian police have arrested 12 suspects linked to a $300,000 payment card-skimming scheme that targeted ATMs and pay-at-the-pump gasoline terminals in Greater Toronto.

On Feb. 3, investigators with Ontario, Canada's Halton Regional Police Service, Durham Regional Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Toronto Police, York Regional Police and the Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit charged the 12 suspects with multiple charges, including conspiracy, participation in organized crime and fraud exceeding $5,000.

According to a statement issued by Halton Police, when investigators raided the suspects' homes, they found more than CAD $40,000, several fake credit cards and three vehicles. Police also discovered equipment and tools allegedly used to manufacture cloned debit and credit created from skimmed card details collected at banks and gas stations.

Arrested and charged with "Fraud Over $5000" and "Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence, Participation in Criminal Organization" were: Dmitri Chalenko, Dennis Glukhov, Viacheslav Glukhov, Vadim Glukhov, Alla Glukhov, Makar Tchirkov, Matvey Tchirkov, Janesmathan Vilvarajah, Rishan Thayalachelvam and Geevan Negendran.

Viatcheslav Shevelev and Maksym Gaiderov were charged with "Fraud Over $5000," "Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence, Participation in Criminal Organization, Instrument for use in Forging Credit Cards" (two counts) and "Possession of Credit Card Data" (two counts).

Though investigators did not release any details about the suspects' nationality or citizenship, experts say there's little doubt the scheme involved some level of international organization, likely from crime rings. Increasingly, international rings are being linked to payments fraud, especially skimming.

"It seems this organized crime family is actually a family," says fraud and identity theft consultant Robert Siciliano. Read more.