24 South Asian men arrested in massive fraud bust

(By Amit Gossai, Toronto )

A large amount of South Asian men are among 26 people facing fraud-related charges in connection with a debit card forgery ring that garnered "tens of thousands" of dollars.

The Durham Regional Police investigation, dubbed Project Off-Guard, concluded last week with tens of thousands of dollars confiscated and debt card forging equipment dismantled and seized, police said.

Last November, Major Crime Fraud Unit investigators received a tip from the OPP indicating a group of people was involved in fraud-related activities concerning debit cards at a local gas station in Whitby.

Surveillance was conducted and initially, 12 people were arrested.
Police said they received more information in January that the group was about to engage in further illegal activity.

A warrant was executed at a Scarborough address and a debit card lab was dismantled. Numerous safes, hundreds of forged debit cards and $10,000 in cash was seized, police said, adding they made four additional arrests as well.
Last week, two more suspects were arrested in Vaughan, and more goods seized, including $35,000 in cash.

Nirmalarasan Kanagalingam, 32, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, 16 counts of fraud over $5,000, 16 counts of unlawful possession of credit card data, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, four counts of theft under $5,000, four counts of breach of probation, two counts of breach of recognizance, possessing a credit card forgery device and participation in a criminal organization.

Vinotha Rajasrikumar, 26, of Brampton is charged with breach of recognizance – aid & abet.

Fazilath Omer, 25, of Brampton is charged with breach of recognizance.

Pirakalathan Sithamparanathan, 20, of Toronto is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, fraud over $5,000, unlawful use of credit card data, use credit card obtained by crime, possession of proceeds of crime and participation in a criminal organization.

Mithun Indrakumaran, 19, of Vaughan, is charged with 15 counts fraud over $5,000, 15 counts of unlawful possession of credit card data, three counts of theft under $5,000, participation in a criminal organization and six counts of breach of undertaking.

Krishnajith Ramesha, 21, of Toronto, is charged with five counts of fraud over $5,000, five counts of unlawful possession of credit card data, theft under $5,000, participation in a criminal organization and breach of probation.

Nishanth Ganeshamoorthy, 19, of Toronto is charged with five counts of fraud over $5,000, five counts of unlawful possession of credit card data, theft under $5,000 and participation in a criminal organization.

Aruncumar Ravindran, 21, of Woodbridge, is charged with 15 counts of fraud over $5,000, 15 counts of unlawful possession of credit card data, three counts of theft under $5,000, participation in a criminal organization, six counts of breach of recognizance, possession of property obtained by crime and possession of proceeds of crime.

Maheswary Vijayakumar, 45, of Toronto, is charged with perjury and obstruct justice.

Sothilingam Vijayakumar, 43, of Toronto, is charged with perjury and obstruct justice.

Kayanthini Vijayakumar, 20, of Toronto, is charged with breach of recognizance – aid & abet.

Srimylan Srivigneswaran, 20, of Toronto, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, five counts of fraud over $5,000, five counts of traffic in credit card data, possess credit card obtained by crime, possess proceeds of crime and participation in a criminal organization.

Prasad Thiruchelvam, 28, of Toronto, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, fraud over $5,000, fraud under $5,000, four counts of unlawful use of credit card data, four counts of use credit card obtained by crime, possession of proceeds of crime and participation in a criminal organization.

Nijanthan Nagendiran, 23, of Toronto, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, fraud over $5,000, unlawful use of credit card data, use credit card obtained by crime, possession of proceeds of crime and participation in a criminal organization.

Nirojan Kulasakaran, 22, of Toronto, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, fraud over $5,000, unlawful use of credit card data, use credit card obtained by crime, possession of proceeds of crime and participation in a criminal organization.

Pratheeb Krishnapillai, 26, of Ottawa, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, fraud over $5,000, unlawful use of credit card data, use credit card obtained by crime, possession of proceeds of crime and participation in a criminal organization.

Sujan Sivakumaru, 21, of Markham, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, fraud over $5,000, unlawful use of credit card data, use credit card obtained by crime, possession of proceeds of crime and participation in a criminal organization.

Chandrakumaran Tharamarathnam, 30, of Whitby, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, fraud over $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, theft under $5,000, possess credit card forgery device, participation in a criminal organization and breach of probation.

Kajenthiran Vijayakumar, 39, of Toronto, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, fraud over $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, theft under $5,000, possess credit card forgery device, participation in a criminal organization, two counts of breach of probation and five counts breach of recognizance.

Sajevan Sivakumaru, 18, of Markham, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, fraud over $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, theft under $5,000, possess credit card forgery device, participation in a criminal organization, two counts of breach of recognizance, two counts of obstruct police, and two counts of personation with intent.

Pararajasingam Ampalayanar, 38, of Toronto, is charged with five counts of fraud over $5,000, five counts of unlawful possession of credit card data, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, forgery of a credit card, possession of a credit card obtained by crime, possess credit card forgery device, possession of property obtained by crime, participation in a criminal organization and five counts of breach of recognizance.

Janarthanan Ratnasingham, 27, of Markham, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, fraud over $5,000, fraud under $5,000, four counts of unlawful use of credit card data, four counts of use credit card obtained by crime, possession of proceeds of crime and participation in a criminal organization.

Arthick Antonito, 26, of Toronto, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, fraud over $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, theft under $5,000, possess credit card forgery device and participation in a criminal organization.

Andrew Jesudasan, 21, of Thornhill, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, fraud over $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, possession of proceeds of crime, theft under $5,000, possess credit card forgery device and participation in a criminal organization.

Arjan Mahendrarajah, 20, of Toronto, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, 16 counts of fraud over $5,000, 16 counts of unlawful possession of credit card data, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, four counts of theft under $5,000, possess credit card forgery device, participation in a criminal organization and breach of probation.

Vigitharan Selvaraj, 22, of Toronto, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, 21 counts of fraud over $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, possession of proceeds of crime, four counts of theft under $5,000, two counts of possess credit card forgery device, 21 counts of unlawful possession of credit card data, forgery of a credit card, possession of a credit card obtained by crime, participation in a criminal organization and instruct commission of offence for a criminal organization.