Edmonton police have joined forces with ethical hackers and the U.S. Secret Service to combat sophisticated international scams that drain trillions from the global economy annually. The collaboration, announced on Thursday, has already halted at least $45 million in fraudulent schemes since July, protecting hundreds of victims worldwide.
Real-Life Scam Examples
One senior in Ontario was pressured to hand over more than $800,000—her entire life savings plus a line of credit—to satisfy false demands. Police intervened at her home and bank to prevent financial ruin. In Vancouver, a woman engaged in an online relationship with a stranger who sent Cartier jewelry to gain her trust, only to later request $750,000. Another woman received a call from someone posing as the RCMP, claiming a family member was arrested and demanding $10,000 for bail. She suspected the scam because her son is Warren Driechel, Edmonton's police chief. "Those are the kind of scams we see," Driechel said during a press conference.
International Crime Networks
These scams often originate in India, Pakistan, Georgia, or the Balkans. Scammers take a service fee and funnel funds to organized crime groups in China, Russia, or terrorist organizations. They impersonate banks, retailers, tax agencies, or police, demanding payment via cheques, gift cards, or gold. "Scammers relentlessly target victims across borders, making their crimes a global threat," said Peter Murphy, U.S. Secret Service agent in charge of the Vancouver Resident Office, who attended the Edmonton press conference. "A multinational effort of law enforcement and the banking sector is needed to detect, disrupt, and dismantle these scams."
How Edmonton Police Got Involved
In July 2025, Edmonton police began working with ethical hackers, also known as scam baiters. These experts pose as victims to infiltrate scammers' computer systems, providing critical intelligence to law enforcement. For instance, police learned that a victim was heading to a Bitcoin machine at an Arizona gas station to transfer $20,000 to scammers. Officers arrived in time to stop the transaction.
The partnership with the Collin County Sheriff's Office in Texas and the U.S. Secret Service has been instrumental in disrupting these schemes. Police emphasize the importance of public vigilance and reporting suspicious activity to prevent further losses.
