Durham Regional Police seek three men for $650,000 vehicle fraud

The Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) is seeking three men in connection with a vehicle financing fraud scheme that resulted in losses exceeding $650,000. Investigators report that between August 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024, the suspects visited multiple dealerships throughout the Durham Region using falsified documents to secure financing for motor vehicles.

After obtaining the vehicles, the suspects allegedly made no payments and fled Canada. Many of the stolen vehicles were subsequently exported from the country. The suspects have been identified as Borislav Ninchov, 34, of Toronto; Vesko Lafchis, 60, of Toronto; and Zhivkov Zhekov, 54, of Picton, Ontario.

Police believe the scam is linked to an organized group involved in ‘criminal tourism.’ This emerging threat involves offenders entering Canada legally on tourist visas with the intent to commit various crimes, such as fraud, theft, and identity theft, before fleeing the country or overstaying their visas to evade immigration officials.