RCMP charge four in stolen vehicle and insurance fraud scheme
Four people have been charged for their roles in an interprovincial stolen vehicle/insurance fraud scheme. The RCMP’s Federal Enforcement Section and the Halifax RCMP/HRP Integrated Criminal Investigations Division investigated the scheme.
In 2005, police received a complaint of suspicious activity and that resulted in a complex six-year investigation. The investigation has determined that the accused were using fraudulent documents to register vehicles they didn’t actually own or possess. Afterward, they would declare the vehicle stolen and collect insurance money. In other cases, the accused were using fraudulent documents to register and sell stolen vehicles with ‘cloned’ Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs).
Through the course of the investigation, RCMP seized three stolen vehicles: a 1999 GMC Truck, 2006 Dodge Truck, and a 2002 Mercedes.
The four accused in this investigation are facing a total of six charges of either Possession of Stolen Property or Fraud. Charges are as follows:
- Timothy Dooley, 52, from Dartmouth – Charged with 3 counts of Fraud, 3 counts of Possession of Stolen Property
- Stephen Fredericks, 49, from Halifax – Charged with one count of Fraud
- Dale Bourassa, 52, from Mount Uniacke – Charged with one count of Fraud
- Dalton Cain, 34, from North Preston – Charged with one count of Fraud
‘This is not a victimless crime,’ says Cpl. Angela Hawryluk with the RCMP Federal Enforcement Section. ‘In one case, a family was out the cost of a vehicle after it was determined they unknowingly bought a stolen vehicle with a cloned VIN. Generally speaking, everyone is affected by this type of fraud through higher vehicle insurance costs.’
‘Organized insurance fraud is a big business. And when fraudsters cheat the system, honest policyholders end up paying in the form of higher premiums,’ said Bill Adams, Atlantic Vice-President, Insurance Bureau of Canada. ‘Today’s charges are a great example of what can be done when police, insurers and other stakeholders work together to fight crime.’
The RCMP reminds the public that they can take steps to ensure they are not buying a stolen vehicle by using a third party company like Carfax or Carproof to verify the vehicle’s history. People are also encouraged to use the internet to research the company they are buying the car from through an independent agency such as the Better Business Bureau.
