Police make 2 arrests in suspected fraud, theft targeting seniors

Two people appeared in court Wednesday to face charges of breaking and entering, theft and fraud in what police believe was a scheme that targeted seniors.

• Montreal police arrest 2, seek 2 others for defrauding seniors

Danut Calin and Mariana Calin, both 41, were arrested last week in connection with six seniors being robbed.

The victims were all women, rangingin age from 69 to 84.

Montreal police said the women were targeted while they were grocery shopping.

The suspects would follow their target in the storeuntil she went to pay at the cash register. When the shopper would pay, the suspects would watch her punch in her PIN and memorize it.

They would then follow the shopper home, enter under a false pretense and steal the debit or credit cards.

The suspects then made purchases using the stolen cards, which totaled $37,000.

Different pair arrested with same MO

The suspects are the second pair to be arrested in recent months, alleged to have been using the samemodus operandi.

Last November,Dinica Dinulescu, 35, and Luiza Ana Nistor, 26, werecharged with conspiracy, fraud of more than $5,000, credit-card theft and breaking and entering, in connection with18 incidents. They are suspectedof defrauding at least 18 senior citizens of more than $150,000 since July 2015.

Montreal police confirmed they are still on the lookout for two other suspects in that case:NicolaeFlorin Calen, 40,and an unidentifiedwoman. Police could not say if or how Nicolae Florin Calen is related to the two Calens arrested last week.

Prevention tips

Montreal police are warning people to:

• Never divulge credit card information over the phone, unless you initiated the transaction.
• When punching in your PIN, always cover the keypad with your hand
• Carefully check your monthly bank statements
• If your cards are stolen, immediately call your financial institution to have the cards cancelled.