The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has completed their investigation into luxury vehicle fraud scam.
Dubbed ‘Project Luxe’, it took place in the summer of 2023. The HRPS Fraud Unit was looking into a group of individuals impersonating representatives of a legitimate retailer of luxury vehicles. This group attended several dealerships throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) where they fraudulently obtained several high-end vehicles. The HRPS says the sophistication of this particular scam and the exceptional quality of the documents the scammers produced enabled the group to carry out similar frauds at other GTA and southern Ontario area dealerships.
An extensive investigation led to the successful identification of group members, as well as established connections to a broader distribution network.
HRPS Regional Fraud investigators were assisted by members of Homeland Security, The New York and New Jersey Port Authority Police, Toronto Police Service, OPP, and the FBI. Successful vehicle recoveries were made throughout Ontario and in the United States. Many of the intercepted vehicles were destined for export overseas.
The estimated value of the recovered vehicles totals more than $1.6 million dollars. Among the vehicles recovered during Project Luxe were a 2023 Maybach GLS600 (valued at over $300,000), a 2020 Lamborghini Urus (also valued at over $300,000), 2021 Ferrari F8 Spider (valued at $600,000), 2023 Porche 911 Turbo (valued at more than $225,000), 2017 Mercedes E400, and 2021 Dodge Durango (both valued over $60,000 each).
In November 2023, search warrants were carried out at locations throughout the GTA, resulting the seizure of evidence linking the accused to the alleged offences. This included equipment used to replicate security features for various methods of secure payment.
Arrested and charged with fraud/possession related offences are:
- 40-year-old Enoch Johnson of Mississauga
- Charged: Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000
- 29-year-old Ahmad Amiri of Oakville
- Charged: Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000
- 27-year-old Issac Osunde Iyamu of no fixed address
- Charged: Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000 (5 counts) and Fraud over $5000
The Halton Regional Police Service reminds members of the public that there are steps they can take to help prevent fraud when selling your vehicle. They include:
- Exercising common sense and good judgement in dealings with any prospective buyers and throughout the process.
- If the situation makes you feel uneasy, approach it cautiously. Be mindful that scammers often use high-pressure tactics to have you enter into a sale before you can exercise your due-diligence.
- Ideally, secure payment before you transfer ownership. When you accept any form of payment, verify it with the issuing bank (don’t rely on your own bank, if different). Although your bank may accept a cheque or money order, the payment sometimes doesn’t clear for several days (or weeks).
- Verify the buyer’s identity with a driver’s licence, and one other form of identification (be sure they include name and address).
- Be cautious when engaged by distant buyers. Although not necessarily scammers, be wary of anyone who makes an offer to buy your car sight unseen or a sale in which someone else who arrives to pick it up and complete the transaction.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the HRPS Regional Fraud Unit at 905-825-4777.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
