Chilliwack RCMP bust major credit card fraud operation
Chilliwack RCMP busted a major fraud operation Wednesday that has been cranking out false identification on an industrial scale, selling the product or using it to fund illegal drug purchases.
It's suspected that the thousand personal ID cards - including credit cards, drivers licences, BC Care Cards, SIN cards, Status cards, even school and firearms licences - were stolen in dozens of home break and enters and thefts from vehicles dating back to 2009.
Police also seized card readers capable of reading and transferring encrypted data stored on the magnetic stripe of credit cards to produce new cards bearing the fraudster's picture but false identification.
Numerous hard drives and computers were also seized that police believe were used to store personal information and credit card data.
RCMP Cpl. Kurt Bosnell said this kind of fraud is a growing problem in Chilliwack as drug addicts are sharing the computer technology to fund their drug habits.
"It's definitely a growing problem," he said.
Dawn Robberstad, 40, of Chilliwack, was arrested and remains in custody as the investigation continues. Robberstad is charged with nine counts of fraud-related offences.
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