Police bust up SIM swap fraud targeting cellphone users across Canada

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) says 10 people have been arrested, and more than 100 charges have been laid in an extensive investigation concerning SIM swap fraud that affected roughly 1,500 cell phone accounts across Canada.

SIM swap fraud involves a fraudster tricking a mobile carrier into transferring a victim’s phone number to a new SIM card to commit financial fraud, steal money, or perform identity theft.

The fraudster often collects the victim’s personal information, such as their name, phone number, and other details.

Through Project Disrupt, investigators arrested 10 people, and two others remain wanted. More than 100 charges have been laid. The offences include fraud of over $5,000, personation with intent and possession of property obtained by crime, among other charges.

Det. Coffey said it’s alleged that in the TPS investigation, perpetrators took control of the cell phone accounts of multiple unsuspecting victims and then made changes to the accounts. This allowed the suspects to access and compromise many of the victims’ online accounts, including accounts at financial institutions.

“The total combined loss to individual victims, telecom companies and financial institutions is over $1 million,” said Det. Coffey. “Over 1,500 cellular accounts throughout Canada are known to have been compromised.”

10 people arrested, two suspects wanted

• Noah Ibgui, 24, of Toronto
• Syed Shan, 23, of Brampton
• Syed Hunain, 22, of Brampton
• Waseem Abbas, 18, of Brampton
• Ounali Hussain, 23, of Mississauga
• Huzaifa Motala, 20, of Toronto
• Brandon D’Amico, 21, of Toronto
• Maria Aguja, 19, of Toronto
• Muhammad Ibrahim, 20, of Winnipeg
• Owais Varachhia, 24, of Toronto
• Nadia Campitelli, 47, of Toronto (still wanted)
• Hervine Umutijima, 26, of Toronto (still wanted)

In many SIM swap fraud incidents, TPS officers said the scammer can contact the mobile carrier while posing as the victim and request a SIM swap or SIM replacement, which transfers the victim’s phone number to a new SIM card.

“The investigation began with reports from multiple telecom companies,” TPS said in a news release. “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.”

Once the SIM swap is complete, the scammer gains access to that phone number, which can lead to the interception of text messages and calls, including those used for two-factor authentication.

The TPS investigation was launched in June 2023.