Police warn public about rise in identity thefts after fraud lab discovered, Protect your mail, shred your documents

Broadcast time: 09:11
Monday, February 8, 2016
55 Division:  416-808-5507

The Toronto Police Service would like to inform the community about a fraud lab discovered as a result of a lengthy investigation which included mail theft and countless identity thefts at local Money Marts in Toronto. 

A number of items were discovered among the technology and computers in the Bloor Street East and Parliament Street area. 

Police would like to warn the public about growing concerns, due to mail theft, that have resulted in these types of identity theft investigations. 

Police want to stress that theft of mail has become an issue within the Greater Toronto Area. The Beach area of the city is one of the targets of this type of fraud and it is imperative that the community is warned about these predators. 

The items discovered in these types of labs can include the following: 

- financial statements, bank documents and cheques stolen from the mail 
- fake driver's licences generated and created in the victims' names 
- fake bank statements generated 
- fake SIN cards 
- fake government identification 
- bills and tenancy documentation stolen from the mail 
- pay cheques, blank cheques and direct deposit statements 
- student loan documents and bank loan documents 
- T4 slips, tax returns and medical documents 

Police want the public to be vigilant with their mail and to shred everything prior to disposal. 

Protect yourself accordingly. We put blinds on our windows, locks on our doors but, most importantly, we need to protect our identification. Put a lock on your mailbox and shred the items that expose your name and identifiers. 

Identity theft has become the crime of today. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5507, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World. 

Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android. 

For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.

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Constable Caroline de Kloet, Corporate Communications, for Detective Constable Kristin Thomas, 55 Division Fraud