Massive credit card fraud bust
Canada Police today busted a ring leader in the credit card skimming practice. This credit card fraud is a bigger problem in Canada than in the US, at this time.
Calgary Police Service on Sunday seized seven skimming devices and associated tools and arrested a man who allegedly flew in from Montreal to try and take advantage of the lucrative upcoming Christmas season, said Det. Colin Harper.
“They recognize that Christmas is an even better and more lucrative time of year to commit this kind of crime,” he said.
“We believe the devices were transported from Montreal to Calgary in the hopes of installing them at several Calgary businesses over the next few weeks.”
The bust, which occurred after a Calgary man picked up his alleged accomplice at the airport, was the result of a CPS skimming investigation launched this summer, said Harper.
The bust will deal skimming operations in the city a major blow, he said.
“This is significant because we’ve gone up the food chain … and caught someone who came here with the purpose of installing and facilitating skimming,” he said.
“To see such a large number of those machines held up in a bag, complete with installation tools is quite significant.
“I’ve only ever seen one of these devices at a time before.”
Serge Muka Kenge, 27, of Calgary, is charged with theft of credit card data, possession of skimming devices, conspiracy to commit fraud and breach of probation. Matthew Pizzi, 25, of Montreal, is charged with possession of skimming devices.
So this Christmas season we can all know we are a bit safer thanks to the police. Always be on the lookout for suspicous behavior. Multiple swiping of credit cards can often time be a dead give-a-way.
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