Chatham-Kent Police Service officials allege: On December 11, 2022, a man opened a bank account online using someone else’s identification.
On December 13, 2022, the man attended the TD Canada Bank on St. Clair Street in Chatham and attempted to open another account using the same identification and supporting documents.
He signed papers with this same name.
The man was recognized for previous fraudulent activities, and the police were contacted.
The account was not activated, and the man left before the police arrived.
At 1:42 p.m., police responded and located the man in the area.
The man was found possessing the identification of three other people but all with his picture.
The 44-year-old Blenheim man was arrested and charged with identity fraud, three counts of uttering forged documents, and four counts of identity theft.
He was transported to police headquarters and held pending a bail hearing.
What should you do if you think you are a victim of identity theft?
You should immediately:
– Notify your financial institution and the local police; if you reside within Chatham-Kent, please call 519-352-1234.
– Contact the CRA at 1-800-959-8281;
– Report the theft to a credit reporting agency such as Equifax or TransUnion;
– Keep records of recent purchases, payments, and financial transactions; and Call 1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) for information on where and how to replace identity cards such as your health card, driver’s license, or SIN if necessary.
– To report fraudulent communication, or if your identity was stolen as part of a scam, please contact the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Phonebusters by email at info@phonebusters.com or call 1-888-495-8501.
For tips to protect yourself against identity theft, see Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft – Canada.ca
For more information on scams and frauds, see Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca)
