The Canadian police have arrested 46 individuals and identified another 164 suspects in a broad investigation into the phenomenon known as „criminal tourism,” targeting organized groups entering Canada solely to commit profitable crimes.
Investigators claim that the majority of those arrested and sought are Romanian citizens, with Indian citizens also being targeted. The information was presented on Friday by the Regional Police of Durham, as part of „Project Jetsetter,” which brings together nine investigations conducted since 2019.
According to Canadian authorities, the investigation has uncovered over 200 crimes and damages amounting to 2.61 million dollars just in the Durham region, part of the Toronto metropolitan area. In total, the cases gathered in the operation have resulted in over 1,440 charges.
### Groups traveling to Canada to commit crimes
The police assert that the suspects were part of international criminal networks and traveled to Canada specifically to carry out coordinated illegal activities.
**Investigators have documented a wide range of crimes, from organized thefts from stores and frauds related to vehicle purchases to car financing scams, staged car accidents for insurance claims, distraction thefts of jewelry, and the theft or illegal export of cars.**
### Scams involving altered car mileage
One of the methods used by suspects involved altering the mileage of cars to artificially increase their resale value.
Moreover, members of the groups used false identities and documents to obtain financing or purchase vehicles, which were later transferred to organized crime networks and, in many cases, exported outside of Canada. According to the police, the cars were never registered in the suspects’ names, making their identification more challenging.
### The „hugging method” targeting elderly victims
Canadian authorities state that distraction thefts, especially targeting elderly individuals, have increased by 268% in a single year in the Durham region.
In many cases, suspects approached victims under the pretext of asking for directions or offering help and gifts. During a hug or an apparently friendly gesture, they would steal the victims’ jewelry and replace them with worthless items.
The police mention that some victims may not immediately realize they have been robbed, and many of these crimes are likely underreported due to the shame felt by the deceived individuals.
### The „Dirty Oil” scam: a $7,000 car bought for $1,000
Among the methods identified by investigators is the so-called „Dirty Oil” scam. Suspects would contact individuals selling their cars and deliberately cause an apparent malfunction during a test or technical inspection to negotiate a much lower price.
The police provided an example of a couple from the province of Ontario trying to sell a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe for $7,000. Video footage showed that one of the alleged buyers poured liquid into the exhaust pipe, causing the vehicle to emit smoke. Believing the engine was severely damaged, the owners agreed to sell the car for only $1,000.
### Ongoing investigation
The Regional Police of Durham stated that investigations are ongoing, and new incidents related to „criminal tourism” continue to be identified. Currently, 164 suspects are still being sought by authorities.