A 21-year-old man from Brantford is facing a long list of criminal charges after an alleged identity theft and cell phone fraud attempt at a busy regional mall. On Tuesday afternoon, April 7, 2026, Durham Regional Police responded to a report of suspicious activity at a retail kiosk located within the Pickering City Centre. According to investigators, a man attempted to open multiple phone lines and acquire high-end devices using what was later confirmed to be a fraudulent driver’s license.
The Arrest and Seizure of Identity Documents
When officers arrived at the cell phone fraud scene, they quickly verified that the suspect’s identification was forged. The suspect, identified as Denusan Thavasothy, was taken into custody without incident at the mall. Upon a further search of his person, police discovered a significant cache of fraudulent identity and financial documents. These items included multiple fraudulent driver’s licenses, forged Social Insurance cards, and various banking and credit cards registered in other names. This discovery suggests a sophisticated level of identity theft intended to facilitate broader financial crimes across the Durham Region. The swift action by the retail employees and the police prevented a significant financial loss through this cell phone fraud scheme.
Serious Charges and Legal Status
Denusan Thavasothy, 21, has been formally charged with several offenses related to the cell phone fraud attempt, including fraud under $5,000, ten counts of possession of fraudulent credit cards and information, and personation to gain advantage. Following his arrest and processing, Thavasothy was released on an Undertaking. He will be required to appear in court at a later date to answer to these allegations. The DRPS Financial Crimes Unit is currently investigating whether this suspect is linked to other similar cell phone fraud occurrences reported across Southern Ontario in recent weeks.
Protecting Against Identity Theft
The DRPS Financial Crimes Unit is using this incident as a reminder for retail workers and residents to remain vigilant against cell phone fraud. Fraudsters often target busy kiosks during peak hours, hoping that employees will rush through the identification verification process to meet sales targets. “Verifying the security features on government-issued ID is a critical step in preventing these types of losses,” police noted in their report. Residents are also encouraged to monitor their credit reports for any unauthorized activity that could indicate their personal information has been compromised for use in a cell phone fraud operation.
Anyone with additional information regarding this suspect or similar incidents at Pickering City Centre is urged to contact D/Cst. Azzano of the Financial Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5364. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Durham Regional Crime Stoppers, where they may be eligible for a cash reward. As the investigation into this cell phone fraud case continues, local businesses are reminded to maintain strict protocols when activating new accounts and distributing high-value hardware.
