A fraud that police say began with the victim’s cellphone number being taken over has led to charges for two people.
Durham Regional Police say that on March 1, 2024, a woman went to three TD Banks in Mississauga impersonating the victim, who is a resident of Durham Region.
Cops allege the woman took control of the victim’s cellphone number by SIM swap, and used the phone number to receive passcodes from the banks two-factor authentication.
As a result, the woman was able to fraudulently transfer money out of the victim’s bank account into another account.
Police then say that, shortly afterwards, a male suspect attended another TD Bank and withdrew the fraudulently obtained money.
In May 2024, police issued a “Help Solve a Crime” news release seeking public help in identifying the female suspect.
On Tuesday, members of the Durham Regional Police Service Financial Crimes Unit laid charges.
Lorelei Drouillard, 57, of Windsor, is charged with fraud over $5,000, intercept private communication, mischief/deny access to computer data, unauthorized use of computer – obtain computer service, possess identity document of another, personation to gain advantage, possess identity info with inference a fraudulent offence was committed and possess credit card.
Isaiah Nanton, 20, of Toronto, is charged with fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime.
Anyone with information about this or similar incidents is asked to contact the Financial Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5371.