A recent pair of fraud investigations is prompting police in Port Moody (PMPD) to remind the public to monitor credit card activity and report all suspicious events.
This comes into the spotlight after several fraud card readers, fake and stolen IDs as well as mail, some of which were taken from the state of New York and others from decades ago, were seized last month.
No formal charges have been laid in any case thus far as PMPD Const. Sam Zacharias says the files remain under investigation.
FRAUD AT LOCAL BUSINESS
One fraud investigation led to the seizure of several card readers and an embosser after a Port Moody business first reported it to police.
On July 6, the business told PMPD a female suspect arranged a $2,800 purchase over the phone and later showed them a forged driver's license.
Later, a male suspect went to the business but also presented a stolen ID.
He completed the transaction and while it went through initially, the credit card company rescinded the purchase.
The woman was identified by investigators and it led to a search warrant executed at a downtown Vancouver apartment where the fraudulent items were seized.
This also included stolen mail from as far as New York and identity information from a number of people.
DECADES-OLD MAIL RECOVERED
More than two weeks later — on July 25 — PMPD received a report of a stolen backpack that contained an individual's credit cards and were later used.
A suspect was ultimately identified and it led police to a Richmond home where a search warrant was executed.
Several fraud-related items were seized from the residence, such as IDs belonging to other people.
Police also found stolen mail taken from residents "dating back decades."
"In both instances, police located items stolen from various jurisdictions and have begun to contact potential fraud victims — many of whom are unaware their information has been compromised," said Zacharias in a release.
"This serves as a great reminder to monitor your credit and report suspicious activity right away."
Anyone with more information about potential fraud is encouraged to report it to Port Moody police at 604-461-3456.
