Three individuals arrested in Quebec for $9-million fraud and data theft targeting Desjardins

Authorities in the Montreal area have apprehended three individuals in relation to a significant data breach and a $8.9-million scam involving the financial cooperative Desjardins.

Law enforcement in Laval, Quebec, disclosed that one of the suspects was found in possession of a list containing personal information for 1.6 million residents of Quebec.

These arrests are linked to a data breach in 2019 that targeted over 9.7 million clients of Desjardins in Canada and abroad, including nearly seven million individuals from Quebec.

Reports indicate that the trio utilized the stolen data to perpetrate fraud amounting to $8.9 million between September 2018 and January 2019.

Two of the suspects, aged 33 and 36, are set to appear in court today, while a court date for the third individual has not been scheduled.

They are facing charges of fraud exceeding $5,000, trafficking in identity information, possession of identity information, and identity theft.

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Authorities are in pursuit of a fourth individual linked to the fraudulent activities and data breach.