The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has arrested Michael O’Hara, 60, in connection with a SIM swap scam that targeted numerous victims in Halton Region.
In February 2024, the HRPS Regional Fraud Unit launched a three-month investigation, dubbed Project Buff, uncovering a fraud network operating locally. On April 18, two male suspects were arrested during the investigation, leading to further inquiries.
On May 2, a search warrant executed at a Toronto apartment revealed over 200 counterfeit identity documents, including driver’s licenses, SIN cards, and birth certificates, as well as notebooks containing personal identifying information.
The investigation identified 136 victims whose identities were compromised. O’Hara faces multiple charges, including three counts of fraud over $5,000, personation with intent, possession of counterfeit marks, and failure to comply with a release order.
He has been released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on May 21, 2024, in Milton.