Why the ServiceOntario link to a massive GTA auto theft bust is ‘extremely alarming’
The Toronto police have uncovered a sophisticated vehicle theft ring with connections to ServiceOntario databases, raising concerns among industry experts. Bryan Gast, an insurance industry investigator from Équité Association, expressed his alarm at the recent announcement made by the Toronto Police regarding the dismantling of the criminal operation. Gast emphasized the potential damage that can be done by a small group of individuals with access to government databases, stating that they can be invaluable to organized crime rings. The operation, known as Project Safari, lasted ten months and resulted in the arrest of seven Greater Toronto Area (GTA) residents, including three ServiceOntario employees.
During Project Safari, it was discovered that these employees had been trafficking personal information of Ontario residents. They shared the addresses of legal car owners, directing thieves to homes with desirable vehicles. Moreover, they provided the thieves with fake vehicle registrations and vehicle identification numbers (VINs), enabling the stolen cars to be resold to unsuspecting buyers through a process called re-VINing. This level of insider involvement and access to sensitive information is particularly concerning. Gast, a former Ontario Provincial Police investigator, highlighted the sophistication and network of such organized car theft rings that make insiders highly valuable to their operations.
The majority of the stolen data in Project Safari targeted Range Rover luxury SUVs, according to Toronto Police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer. Some of the arrested individuals were found in possession of stolen vehicles, including Ford F150 trucks and a high-end Ducati motorcycle. The investigation initially focused on downtown auto thefts before shifting to the trafficking of data once suspicions arose about ServiceOntario employees’ involvement.
As of now, ServiceOntario has not issued any comment regarding the case. It remains unclear who employs the three ServiceOntario employees among the affected outlets, as some are operated by private businesses under contract with the provincial government. The franchise aspect of ServiceOntario’s operations could potentially have an impact on these security breaches.
Gast emphasized the significance of Project Safari, particularly due to the involvement of mainstream workers. It is worth noting that this is not the first time such security breaches have been alleged at ServiceOntario. In 2012, all 72 government-operated electronic ServiceOntario booths were shut down during a credit-card tampering investigation. Additionally, Peel police uncovered an insider fraud ring involving the alteration of vehicle identification numbers, implicating local car industry professionals in a major auto theft bust in November.
The exposure of insider involvement in such criminal operations raises concerns about the vulnerability of government databases and the potential for personal information misuse. The investigation serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust security measures and the need for ongoing vigilance to safeguard sensitive data.
