Fugitive linked to Desjardins data breach arrested in Cancun

Maxime Paquette, wanted since June 2024 for his role in the 2019 Desjardins data breach, was arrested in Cancun by Quebec and Mexican authorities.

Quebec fugitive nabbed in Mexico over massive Desjardins breach

Quebec provincial police (SQ) and Mexican authorities have arrested Maxime Paquette, one of the province's most wanted fugitives, in Cancun, ctvnews.ca reports.

Paquette has been wanted since June 2024 in connection with the Portier case, a sweeping investigation into the 2019 Desjardins data breach that exposed the personal information of close to 9.7 million Canadian and international clients of the financial institution.

He faces charges of possession and trafficking of identifying information, fraud over $5,000, and identity theft. According to the SQ, Paquette had Desjardins client data in his possession during the breach and subsequently sold identifying information from the stolen lists to multiple individuals and on the Dark Web.

Paquette remains in custody in Mexico, pending extradition proceedings.

His arrest follows that of Juan Pablo Serrano, who was apprehended in Spain in January as part of the same investigation.

The 2019 breach unfolded over more than two years before Desjardins became aware of it — and then only after police notified the institution. A 2020 joint report by the Canada Privacy Commissioner and the Quebec Information Access Commission found that Desjardins had identified the security weaknesses that led to the breach but failed to act on them in time.

Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)