Black Press

RCMP investigators believe they have busted a major identity fraud operation based in Cache Creek with ties to Kamloops.

On Oct. 23 Kamloops RCMP property-crime unit assisted Ashcroft RCMP with a search warrant for a Cache Creek residence that culminated in the arrest of a 22 year old Cache Creek man.

“An overwhelmingly large amount of personal data” is how RCMP are describing evidence seized from the residence.

Among the items recovered were dozens of stolen credit cards, stolen personal identification, forged credit cards, forged provincial driver’s licences, temporary operating permits, three laptop computers, two computer towers, an embossing machine, drugs and a .22 calibre rifle.

Also seized were hundreds of computer discs filled with thousands of pieces of credit-card information.

Twenty-two year old Corey Richard Harkness is facing several charges related to the bust, including forging a credit card, unauthorized possession/use of a credit card, unauthorized use of credit-card data and possession of a credit-card forging instrument.

Police said Harkness is known to police and was already on a conditional sentence order for similar offences.

While police were searching the residence, several vehicles came and went. Police questioned the drivers and one 32 year old man from the Lower Mainland was arrested for producing a forged Drivers License. It was also discovered that the vehicle he was driving was rented with a fraudulent credit card.

Kamloops RCMP Cst. Cheryl Bush said investigators don’t believe the two suspects are linked to organized crime, but the size of the operation does suggest others may be involved.

While the investigation is ongoing, RCMP believe much of the data was obtained from break and enters, mail theft, and theft from vehicles.

She said this should serve as reminder to the public not to leave those types of items in their vehicles.

“This is what these people are after and there is market for this in the criminal world,” Bush said.