Toronto police have arrested ten individuals and are pursuing two more in connection with a significant SIM swap fraud investigation, known as Project Disrupt. The operation revealed that over 1,500 cellular accounts nationwide were compromised, leading to losses exceeding $1 million for victims, telecom companies, and financial institutions.
SIM swap scams exploit weaknesses in two-factor authentication, allowing criminals to take control of a victim’s cellphone account by impersonating them at a cellphone store or tricking mobile carriers into transferring the victim’s phone number to a different SIM card. Once they gain access, the criminals can intercept emails and texts related to password recovery, which can lead to further compromises of bank accounts and social media profiles.
The investigation, initiated in 2023 following reports from various telecom companies, has already led to multiple search warrants and the seizure of over 400 pieces of fake identification.
The arrested individuals include:
- Noah Ibgui, 24, Toronto: Charged with fraud over $5,000, intercepting private communication, fraudulently obtaining computer service, and mischief to computer data.
- Syed Shan, 23, Brampton: Charged with fraud over $5,000, intercepting private communication, unauthorized use of a computer, and possession of property obtained by crime.
- Syed Hunain, 22, Brampton: Charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000, intercepting private communication, unauthorized use of a computer, and possession of property obtained by crime.
- Waseem Abbas, 18, Brampton: Charged with fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime.
- Ounali Hussain, 23, Mississauga: Charged with fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime.
- Huzaifa Motala, 20, Toronto: Charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000 and public mischief.
- Brandon D’Amico, 21, Toronto: Charged with eighteen counts of personation with intent, eighteen counts of possessing identity information for fraudulent purposes, eighteen counts of intercepting private communications, fraud under $5,000, and four counts of possessing counterfeit marks.
- Maria Aguja, 19, Toronto: Charged with eight counts of personation with intent, eight counts of possessing identity information for fraudulent purposes, and eight counts of intercepting private communications.
- Muhammad Ibrahim, 20, Winnipeg: Charged with fraud over $5,000 and public mischief.
- Owais Varachhia, 24, Toronto: Charged with three counts of fraud over $5,000.
Police are currently seeking two additional suspects in connection with this case:
- Nadia Campitelli, 47, Toronto: Wanted for three counts of fraud over $5,000, fraud under $5,000, intercepting private communications, and breach of probation.
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Hervine Umutijima, 26, Toronto: Wanted for mischief to computer data, attempt fraud under $5,000, personation with intent, identity theft, use of a forged document, and seven counts of fraud under $5,000.