[TPS] – Ten Arrests Made and 108 Charges Laid in Project Disrupt, a SIM Swap Fraud Investigation

Toronto Police Service
www.tps.ca
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News Release

Ten Arrests Made and 108 Charges Laid in Project Disrupt, a SIM Swap Fraud Investigation

Broadcast time: 10:30 AM
Date: Thursday, Aug 01, 2024
Unit: Financial Crimes
Case #: 2024-1551731

The Toronto Police Service is making the public aware of 10 arrests made and 108 charges laid in a major SIM swap fraud investigation dubbed Project Disrupt.

On Thursday, August 1, 2024, Detective David Coffey, from the Financial Crimes Unit, and Detective Constable Michael Gow, from the Coordinated Cyber Center (C3), held a news conference about Project Disrupt.

Watch the news conference here.

A SIM swap scam is a type of account takeover fraud that generally targets a weakness in two-factor authentication and two-step verification, in which the second factor or step is a text message (SMS) or call placed to a mobile telephone. In the scheme, individuals compromise an unsuspecting victim’s cell phone account by switching the SIM card associated to the account by either impersonating the customer at a cell phone store or otherwise gaining access to the account. Once they have access to the account, they are able to receive any emails or texts sent in relation to password recovery or changes and thus access and compromise any other accounts associated to the victim, such as online banking and social media accounts.

In June 2023, the Toronto Police Service Financial Crimes Unit together in partnership with the Coordinated Cyber Center Unit (C3) began an investigation into a SIM swap fraud related scheme. It was alleged that perpetrators had taken over the cell phone accounts of multiple unsuspecting victims and then made changes to the accounts allowing them to access and compromise many of the victims’ online accounts, including accounts at financial institutions. Often times the perpetrators also ordered new cell phones which were then charged to the compromised accounts.

In many instances, the perpetrators impersonated victims at cell phone stores using convincing, fraudulent identification. Often, they would then also attend and use the same identification at the victims’ various financial institutions. In other instances, the perpetrators gained access to cell phone accounts using phishing techniques, such as false web links and websites.

The investigation began with reports from multiple telecom companies. To date, the Toronto Police Service has executed multiple search warrants and production orders during the course of the investigation. Over 400 fraudulent pieces of identification were seized in the execution of the warrants.

The total combined loss to individual victims, telecom companies and financial institutions is over $1M.

Over 1,500 cellular accounts throughout Canada are known to have been compromised.

Arrests and Charges

The following individuals have been arrested and are currently before the courts:

Noah Ibgui, 24, of Toronto, is charged with:

Fraud Over $5000
Intercept Private Communication
Fraudulently Obtain Computer Service
Mischief to Computer Data

Syed Shan, 23, of Brampton, is charged with:

Fraud Over $5000
Intercept Private Communication
Unauthorized Use of a Computer
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

Syed Hunain, 22, of Brampton, is charged with:

two counts of Fraud Over $5000
Intercept Private Communication
Unauthorized Use of a Computer
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

Waseem Abbas, 18, of Brampton, is charged with:

Fraud Over $5000
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

Ounali Hussain, 23, of Mississauga, is charged with:

Fraud Over $5000
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

Huzaifa Motala, 20, of Toronto, is charged with:

two counts of Fraud Over $5000
Public Mischief

Brandon D’Amico, 21, of Toronto, is charged with:

eighteen counts of Personation with Intent
eighteen counts of Possess Identity Information for Fraudulent Purpose
eighteen counts Intercept Private Communications
Fraud Under $5000
four counts of Possess Counterfeit Mark

Maria Aguja, 19, of Toronto, is charged with:

eight counts of Personation with Intent
eight counts of Possess Identity Information for Fraudulent Purpose
eight counts Intercept Private Communications

Muhammad Ibrahim, 20, of Winnipeg, is charged with:

Fraud Over $5000
Public Mischief

Owais Varachhia, 24, of Toronto, is charged with:

three counts of Fraud Over $5000

Outstanding Suspects

The following two suspects are still wanted by police in connection with this investigation:

Nadia Campitelli, 47, of Toronto, is wanted for:

three counts of Fraud Over $5000
Fraud Under $5000
Intercept Private Communications
Breach of Probation

Hervine Umutijima, 26, of Toronto, is wanted for:

Mischief to Computer Data
Attempt Fraud Under
Personation with Intent
Identity Theft
Use a Forged Document
seven counts of Fraud Under $5000

Images of Nadia Campitelli and Hervine Umutijima have been released. If seen or located, please contact local police.

Images of fraudulent identification seized during the execution of the search warrants have also been released.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

Constable Stephanie Miceli for Detective David Coffey

Images for this release are available on our website.

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https://www.tps.ca/