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Police believe the passes were being made locally.

“One hundred ninety six criminal charges being laid is pretty significant and I think it sends a very strong message that the TTC and the Toronto Police Service take this kind of thing very very seriously,” TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said.

But it’s not the first time the TTC has been targeted by counterfeiters.

In 2006, five people were arrested in connection to the token fraud scheme. More than five million counterfeit transit tokens were delivered to Toronto through Niagara Falls, NY, from a private U.S. mint and sold in the $10-million fraud case. That operation led to the change in the make of the token in 2007.

To help stem future counterfeit losses, Mr. Ross pointed to the Presto card-fare system.

It was to be in full effect by the Pan Am Games in 2015, but now Metrolinx expects the system to be fully implemented by 2016.

The delay has been attributed to redesigning machines to accommodate the TTC’s multiple modes of transit. This year, Presto readers will be installed on 50 new streetcars and at over 20 subway stations and the system will be fully implemented at key venues in time for the Games. The card has been in use in Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Brampton and Hamilton for several years.

“Over the next few years the TTC will be moving to Presto,” Mr. Ross said. “That electronic fare card will bring an end to counterfeiting on the TTC, stemming an estimated $5-million dollars in revenue loss both in counterfeit passes and fake tokens.”

Based on their investigations, the TTC says they believe they are only notified of 10% of all counterfeiting, but warn the remaining 90% their days are numbered.

“You will be caught, as the 62 arrests and 196 criminal charges today will attest,” said Mr. Ross.

National Post