Three men are wanted in a vehicle financing fraud investigation involving dealerships across Durham Region and more than $650,000 in losses, Durham Regional Police said.
The regional investigation covers alleged transactions between Aug. 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024. Police allege the suspects visited multiple dealerships and obtained financing for vehicles using falsified documents.
After receiving the vehicles, the suspects allegedly made no payments and left Canada. Many of the vehicles were subsequently exported from the country, according to police.
The investigation was conducted by the Durham Regional Police Service’s Financial Crimes Unit. Investigators believe the alleged scheme is connected to an organized group involved in what police describe as criminal tourism.
Police use that term to describe people who enter Canada legally on tourist visas intending to commit crimes, then leave the country or remain beyond their authorized stay.
According to police, those offenders are often connected to broader criminal networks whose activities can include fraud, theft, property crime and identity theft. Police say methods used to avoid detection can include travelling between regions and using false identities.
Those broader descriptions form part of the police warning about criminal tourism; the allegations in this investigation concern vehicle financing fraud. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Anyone in Ajax or elsewhere with information about the investigation is asked to contact D/Cst. Taylor of the Financial Crimes Unit at 905-579-1520, ext. 5283.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or through www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca. Police say tipsters may qualify for a cash reward.
