Utilizing stolen or cast identification to make large ticket purchases isn’t a brand new rip-off, nevertheless it seems to work usually sufficient to maintain companies on their toes and investigators busy.
Colten Kimmy, the final supervisor at Wetaskiwin Motorsports in central Alberta, mentioned he’s seen an uptick in I.D. fraud at his enterprise.
Simply days earlier than Christmas, the enterprise managed to cease a would-be fraudster in his tracks.
On Dec. 19, Kimmy acquired a cellphone name from a person who mentioned he mentioned was seeking to purchase a high-end Ski-Doo snowmobile however was unable to come back to the central Alberta retailer to make the acquisition in-person.
“The man was claiming he was residing right here for the previous 5 years, working for a corporation in Edmonton, and simply had an Ontario I.D. nonetheless,” Kimmy mentioned.
Kimmy says they acquired pictures of the person’s identification and proof of employment.
These raised some pink flags.
Upon nearer inspection, Kimmy mentioned there have been discrepancies between the paperwork and so they gave the impression to be cast.
When a financing request was submitted, one lender thought the applicant might be fraudulent, however one other lender authorised the appliance routinely.
Kimmy then contacted the RCMP, however as a result of the person was not bodily current, police weren’t in a position to affirm if this was fraud or not.
Get breaking Nationwide information
For information impacting Canada and world wide, join breaking information alerts delivered on to you once they occur.
Later that day, the person did efficiently make a purchase order from a unique enterprise north of Edmonton.
“I wasn’t 100 per cent sure he was a fraudster. However we’re getting there. And we’re like, possibly if we are able to get him in-person, we are able to confirm if he’s an precise actual particular person, or if he’s a fraudster,” Kimmy mentioned.
So, Wetaskiwin Motorsports requested the suspect to come back to the shop. The person accepted, and confirmed up late within the day on Saturday, Dec. 20.
Kimmy and his colleague engaged the person in dialog, and once they decided that he was seemingly fraudulent, referred to as RCMP once more.
“By way of that basically sharp investigation by the worker, and establishing the time, he was in a position to facilitate the RCMP being on the enterprise at that precise time,” mentioned Cpl. Troy Savnikoff with the Alberta RCMP.
Mounties then arrested the suspect.
Savnikoff reminds folks to pay attention to each your bodily I.D. and your on-line behaviours.
“Identification theft is on the rise in Canada and it takes form in many alternative types.”
A number of the penalties of stolen I.D. getting used embody victims being held chargeable for loans that had been taken out of their names, dealerships being unable to promote autos which have liens positioned on them, and legit homeowners having their autos repossessed.
Kimmy mentioned after I.D. fraud does occur, there may be little or no consequence to his enterprise — his concern is for the victims whose credit score turns into compromised by such massive transactions.
“I believe that a greater group begins with the people making a distinction,” Kimmy says.
“It doesn’t matter how small or insignificant the occasion is, I believe if you happen to all the time attempt to do your finest and stick up for everybody.
“I believe ultimately — hopefully — these fraudsters can be put to an finish.”
Liam Richardson, 20, from Ontario, has been charged with two counts of identification fraud, misuse of bank card, site visitors of cast paperwork, and possession of cast paperwork.
© 2026 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
