Four men defraud the Croatian Credit Union in Mississauga

Investigators from Peel Regional Police’s Fraud Bureau have made three arrests, and are seeking one additional suspect, in relation to a mortgage fraud investigation.

In June 2010, officers from the Fraud Bureau began investigating a fraud complaint involving The Croatian Credit Union, located on Dundas Street West, Mississauga. Investigators determined that the suspects, with the assistance of the General Manager within the Croatian Credit Union, were able to obtain fraudulent mortgages on undeveloped parcels of land, located in rural Ontario.

The fraudulent mortgages known as “Oklahomas” were obtained over a six year period, between 2002 and 2008, and resulted in the credit union and its community being defrauded of approximately 9 million dollars. In addition, over 4,000 credit union members, while their deposits are protected by the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario, have each lost their $250.00 membership fee.

On Tuesday, September 7, 2010, the following suspects were arrested in relation to this matter;

· Elma ANICIC, a 36 year-old resident of Toronto;
· Dubravko HAJDAREVIC, a 41 year-old resident of Toronto; and,
· Josip VINSKI, a 60 year-old resident of Toronto.

All three suspects were charged with the following offences;

· Fraud Over Five Thousand Dollars;
· Conspiracy to Commit Fraud; and,
· Defraud the Public.

They were each held for a bail hearing and appeared in the Ontario Court of Justice, in Brampton, on September 8, 2010.

Investigators are currently searching for a fourth suspect involved in this fraud. Miroslaw “Mike” ANICIC, is a 35 year-old resident of Toronto. He is described as a white male, 5’ 9” tall, weighing 185 lbs, with short dark hair and a goatee.

Miroslaw ANICIC is well known within the Croatian community and police are requesting that members of the community contact investigators, if they have any information on him.