A Calgary man is facing charges in connection to a vehicle odometer roll back scam that defrauded more than 50 people.
The Economic Crimes Unit was notified in January by a credit card company that a number of skimmed cards were being used for fraudulent purchases in Calgary.
Police say the cards were being used to service vehicles and purchase vehicle parts and that the vehicles being serviced, were purchased at an auction house.
Investigators say that the vehicles had high kilometres but they had been rolled back between purchase from the auction house and attempting to sell them online.
“Investigation by the constables revealed that the offender was purchasing vehicles from the auction house at which time he would take those vehicles and have small repairs doe to them, maybe tune ups etc., change some parts out and take them to auto repair facilities where we believe that the odometers were rolled back. He would then list those vehicles on kijiji, Craig’s List, and the Auto Trader for sale and individuals would then come into negotiation with him to purchase those vehicles,” said S/Sgt. Kristie Verheul from the Economic Crimes Unit.
They say that in one case, approximately 208,000 kilometres were rolled back.
The suspect in the case purchased 54 vehicles over three years.
Andriy Plysiun, 28, of Calgary, faces one count of fraud over $5,000.
Police estimate the value of fraud is $300,000 and say that number is likely to increase as more victims are identified.
