SQ busts debit card fraud ring based in Laurentians

ST-SAUVEUR – The town of St-Sauveur is home to some of the best skiing in the province.

Global News found out Thursday morning it’s also been a hotbed for debit card “scheming.”

Fifty-two-year-old Martin Antonov Kouzov, a resident of St-Sauveur, is considered by the Surete-du-Quebec as the ringleader of a major fraud ring based in the Laurentians.

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Police say Kouzov and his alleged seven accomplices attached home-made card-readers and cameras to dozens of ATMs across the province.

A “skimmer” was used to record the card’s data, and a tiny camera was placed on top of the keypad to capture the user’s password.

“The information was then used to produce clone cards,” SQ Cpt. Richard Gauthier told Global News. “The network was used to withdraw large sums of money from machines in Asia, South America, and the United States.”

The network has been allegedly operating since 2008.

“Those arrested allegedly manipulated 200 cash machines and committed a fraud in excess of $ 1 million,” SQ Sgt. Benoit Richard told reporters.

Police executed eight arrest warrants and six search warrants Thursday morning. Four Quebec men were arrested and were formally arraigned at the St-Jerome Courthouse with various fraud-related charges.

Another four men from the Toronto area are still wanted and remain on the loose.

Police hope Thursday’s bust serves as a wake-up call to all regular users of bank machines.

“Cover your PIN number at all times,” Sgt. Benoit Richard says. “It’s the only way to stop this type of crime.”