A 39-year-old Brampton woman is facing multiple charges after an identity-fraud scheme that targeted an auto dealership in Durham Region, Durham Regional Police said.
Police say the case began on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, when a suspect submitted an online application to purchase a 2027 Mercedes SUV at a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Durham using a victim's identification.
The application included images of identification documents, among them a Canadian passport that showed the suspect's photograph but listed the victim as the holder, according to police. The financing was approved through a financial institution.
Before the vehicle could be released, the victim learned of the purchase and reported it to both police and the dealership as identity fraud.
Officers moved in when the suspect returned. On Thursday, October 8, 2026, the woman was arrested without incident as she attended the dealership to complete the transaction and take possession of the SUV.
Skylar Porter, 39, of Brampton is charged with fraud over $5,000, uttering a forged document, personation, possession of an identity document, and possession of cocaine.
The charges have not been tested in court.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Det. Stuart of the DRPS Financial Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5353. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.
Identity fraud cases like this one typically begin when personal documents are stolen, copied or obtained through data breaches, and residents are encouraged to watch for unexpected financing or purchase confirmations in their name as an early warning sign.
