Two people are facing 39 charges in connection to a credit card skimming and manufacturing operation that netted over $150,000 worth of merchandise from two south side Calgary homes.

The Calgary Police Economic Crimes Unit launched an investigation following reports that credit card skimming devices were being placed on gas pumps across the city.

On Wednesday, warrants were executed on two homes; one in the 400 block of Mahogany Terrace S.E. and another at a residence in the 100 block of Silverado Boulevard S.W.

Investigators found a fully functioning credit card and identification counterfeiting lab inside and what is believed to be more than $150,000 worth of high-end merchandise.

They believe the good were purchased using fraudulent credit cards and include items from Breitling, Holt Renfrew, Burberry, Nordstrom, Prada, Gucci, Canada Goose, Apple, and Go Pro.

“This is very, very organized. Making the skimmers was part of this group’s role. Placing the skimmers, again, taking those off, which in turn was able to get them credit card data. From there, taking that data and putting it onto cards and then passing that off and going out, and as you see, getting all of the merchandise bought fraudulently on the fraudulent credit cards. From there what we believe has happening is that, these items, high-end items, that are purchased for consumer use only are sold via the Internet or in person-to-person transactions,” said Cps S/Sgt. Kristie Verheul of the CPS Economic Crimes Unit.

Verheul says they believe the money is then laundered and sent overseas.

Police found the following items in the lab:

  • Hand tools and paint to create overlays
  • Pinpad keys
  • Cash
  • A track two data reader and encoder
  • Samples of fraudulent credit cards and counterfeit identification

Denys Ranyuk, 32, is charged with three counts of mischief to property, three counts of mischief to data, three counts of possessing an instrument of forgery, two counts of possessing credit card data and two counts of possessing fraudulent credit card data.

Dimitri Barbu, 33, is charged with three counts of mischief to property, three counts of mischief to data, three counts of possessing an instrument of forgery, three counts of breach of a recognizance, seven counts of possessing credit card data and seven counts of possessing fraudulent credit cards. 

Investigators also uncovered a list of 38 addresses in and around the city that appear to be locations of gas stations where credit card skimmer devices may be installed.

Police went to all of the locations on the list and inspected the gas pumps and notified the operators of the service stations about possible tampering and skimming activity.

They believe the offenders were able to obtain more than 500 credit card numbers per month from the pump skimmers and police are encouraging Calgarians to check their statements to ensure they were not victimized.