Since April of 2020, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Eastern Ontario have received an increased number of complaints from local businesses who have fallen victim to fraudsters purchasing items over the phone or online.
Typically, the fraudsters contact a business to place an order for a product by way of phone, email or website, with plans to make the payment using a stolen payment card and counterfeit driver’s licence.
The business, believing it to be a legitimate purchase, requests a driver’s licence, then processes the payment on stolen payment card(s).
The business provides the product(s) through a shipping company or to an individual picking up the product using a rented van or trailer (also rented with a stolen payment card).
Eventually the real cardholder identifies and disputes the unauthorized charge. As a result, the business receives a charge back and is responsible for paying back the amount charged on the stolen card.
Businesses who accept Card-Not-Present (CNP) orders can better avoid fraud by using the Ministry of Transportation’s (MTO) online Driver’s Licence Check verification tool.
How can businesses protect themselves:
In the fall of 2019, the MTO eliminated the $2 legislated fee per licence check and rolled out an enhanced version of the Driver’s Licence Check. This free online service is easy to use and convenient:
- The Driver’s Licence Check is a free online service for the public and businesses to find out if an Ontario driver’s licence is valid;
- In order to use the service, the public and businesses can visit the Driver’s Licence Check service website (https://www.dlc.rus.mto.gov.on.ca/dlc/);
- Please note that the only information relayed through the service is whether the driver’s licence number entered is valid or invalid along with specific condition codes, if applicable. However, no personal information is displayed.
- The Driver’s Licence Check has the ability to check up to 100 driver’s licence numbers at once (previously restricted to 9);
- Businesses can automatically load driver’s licence numbers from a CSV file rather than enter them manually to support multiple licence checks;
- Email and download results;
- Access the mobile-responsive website from a mobile browser for a seamless and consistent online experience; and
- Scan driver’s licence card on a mobile device (i.e., smartphone, Android tablet).
If you become a victim this type of fraud, contact your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 (toll free) or report online at www.antifraudcentre.ca.
