Four alleged scammers arrested for posing as anti-fraud agents

Calgary police have arrested four men they say posed as anti-fraud bank agents to scam Calgarians, including a woman bilked for nearly $26,000.

On Aug. 5, a man identifying himself as representing her bank’s “anti-fraud department” asked her to confirm supposedly shady transactions on her account, insisting her credit card had been frozen. “The suspect then directed the victim to cut up her credit card and place it in an envelope to be picked up by a courier driving a silver Honda CRV,” police said in a press release. “The victim was contacted again by the suspect, who asked her to confirm her old personal identification number (PIN) and to verify a new PIN for her new card that would later be sent to her in the mail.”

The following day, the woman discovered several withdrawals from her account totaling $25,824 and was then told by her bank that her credit card hadn’t been frozen.

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After she informed police, officers on Aug. 29 went to a home in the 500 block of 15 Ave. S.E. where they seized a conducted energy weapon, a black replica pellet handgun, multiple bear spray canisters, a retractable baton, a and backpack full of .22-cal. ammunition.

They also found several items of identification and bank cards though to be linked to fraudulent activities and stolen vehicles, two stolen motorcycles parked nearby and a device that can access vehicles’ computer systems in order to steal them.

Charged with four counts of breaching a release order that includes removing an ankle monitor is Badr Ghassan Salim Al-Saffar, 28, who’s been remanded in custody.

Brandon Laroy Fordham, 31, faces tow counts of breaching a release order and has a pair of arrest warrants.

Charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000, three counts of uttering forged documents and possession of a stolen bank car and three counts of breaching a release order is Jordan Tyler Oldford, 37

Jeremy Sauve, 41, is charged with eight weapons-related breaches of a release order, fraud over $5,000, possession of a forged bank card, possession of a stolen bank card, uttering a forged document, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace and possession of instruments of forgery.

Police say a quick response by the victim helped lead to the arrests and urged Calgarians to be wary of anyone seeking a PIN, bank card or to have their valuables collected by a courier.

“Thanks to prompt action from the victim in reporting this incident to police and alerting her bank, we were able to investigate and quickly apprehend several individuals who have participated in bank and courier scams,” said Insp. Scott Neilson.

“Hang up, contact your bank directly and speak with a trusted family member or friend before taking any action. A few minutes of verification can prevent a significant financial loss.”