Anastasia Tataru, a 19-year-old Laval woman, has been arrested on charges of defrauding seniors by convincing them to hand over their bank cards and personal identification numbers (PINs). She faces multiple charges, including fraud over $5,000 and impersonating an officer.
Since April 2024, Laval police (SPL) have identified nearly a dozen cases in which the suspect allegedly used the names “Simon Blaid” or “Simon Cloutier” to impersonate an investigator from a financial institution or the Anti-Fraud Centre. The victims were told that their bank cards had been compromised, and after gaining their trust, Tataru reportedly asked the seniors to place their cards in an envelope and drop them off in their mailbox.
Under the alias “Jessica Blais,” Tataru then allegedly retrieved the bank cards and PINs, which were provided by the victims during the phone calls. She is said to have made fraudulent transactions using the stolen information.
The Laval police department has linked Tataru to around 10 cases of this scam and has identified 30 similar cases in the area. Following her arrest, Tataru was released under certain conditions, and she is scheduled to appear in court on January 15, 2025.
The SPL is reminding the public not to share personal information, including bank card numbers or PINs, with strangers, as financial and government institutions will never request such details via email, phone, or text message.
