Two Toronto car dealership employees have been charged with 176 counts related to an alleged scheme to sell stolen vehicles to unsuspecting customers, police revealed during a press briefing on Wednesday. The suspects, working as salespeople at a branded dealership, reportedly used their positions to acquire stolen cars through numbered companies, some of which they controlled, and then resold these vehicles fraudulently.
Detective Dan Kraehling, leading the investigation known as Project Warden, explained that the suspects used falsified VINs (Vehicle Identification Numbers) and manipulated Carfax reports to present the vehicles as legitimate. The dealership’s funds were used to purchase the vehicles, which were then sold with fake documents, deceiving buyers into believing they were purchasing legal cars.
The investigation, which began in August 2024 following a report from the dealership, led to multiple search warrants executed in October at locations across the Greater Toronto Area, where officers recovered suspected stolen vehicles and fraudulent documentation. Police have currently linked 22 vehicle sales to the two accused, who allegedly operated this scheme for about a year.
Authorities caution that there may be additional victims unaware they own stolen cars. Detective Kraehling advised buyers to run independent vehicle reports, as discrepancies could reveal fraudulent sales.