Charges laid after online loan company targets customers with cyberattacks
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Over the course of the month, we will be sharing information for all Calgarians, including youth, parents, business owners and seniors, so that we can all work together to fight cybercrimes. Follow the Calgary Police Service on social media to learn how you can protect yourself from cyber attacks and other cyber-enabled crimes.
Our Cybercrime Team has concluded a two-and-a-half year investigation into an online loan company that is alleged to have targeted customers with Telephony Denial of Service (TDoS) attacks, causing an overwhelming volume of phone calls, sometimes numbering in the thousands within a 24-hour period.
In December, 2022, a citizen contacted the Calgary Police Service (CPS) to report that they had been the victim of a TDoS attack, a cybercrime attack that disrupts telephone services by flooding a phone line with calls. It was believed the attack was initiated by an online loan company, Sonic Cash 500, which the victim had used to acquire a loan.
The CPS Cybercrime Team began investigating, which resulted in identifying five additional victims who also experienced TDoS attacks. These attacks rendered phone lines unusable for victims, their families, friends and employers, including a Calgary shopping mall and a diagnostic imaging provider.
Through a co-ordinated and complex investigation, the CPS identified that the company was operating out of Quebec. In February 2024, search warrants were executed at five locations in Laval and Montreal, Quebec, resulting in the seizure of thousands of documents and more than 200 electronic devices, including cellphones and computers. The result of these search warrants significantly disrupted the operations of this company and prevented further victimization.
On Wednesday, Sept. 24, and Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, CPS investigators, with the support Quebec police agencies arrested four individuals.
Steven MANCINI, 41, of Laval, Quebec, and Johnny RIOUX, 43, of Laval, Quebec, have been charged with one count each of:
· Extortion
· Harassing communications
· Fraud over $5,000
· Criminal interest rate
Scott GEDDES, 44, of Montreal, Quebec, and Megan WARTOUKIAN, 35, of Montreal, Quebec, have been charged with one count each of:
· Extortion
· Harassing communications
All four individuals are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Calgary.
“The investigation demonstrates the growing sophistication of cyber-enabled crimes and the importance of multi-agency collaboration,” says Staff Sergeant Ryan Nolan of the Cyber/Forensics Unit. “CPS cybercrime investigators are highly trained, and for over two and a half years, they worked diligently with partners across Canada to identify and disrupt a network that was causing real harm to individuals and businesses. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a reminder that these crimes are not victimless.”
"The Calgary Police Service’s investigation demonstrates the importance of strong collaboration across jurisdictions and agencies,” says Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction. “I am proud of the role Alberta’s Consumer Investigations Unit played in supporting this complex case, helping to protect families, businesses and communities from cyber-enabled crimes. By working together, we are making Alberta a safer and more secure place to live, work, and raise a family."
Investigators would like to thank several partner agencies who provided critical support to this investigation, including the Alberta Services Consumer Investigation Unit, Sûreté du Québec, Laval Police Service, Montreal Police Service, RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Any Calgarians who have been the victim of a cyber-enabled crime is encouraged to report it to the Calgary Police Service by calling 403-266-1234. Additionally, anyone with information about cyber crime that is targeting Calgarians can also report it to police, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
The Alberta government warns consumers not to borrow from high cost of credit or payday lenders that are not properly licensed in Alberta. Albertans can check to see if a lender is licensed under the Consumer Protection Act here: https://www.servicealberta.ca/find-if-business-is-licenced.cfm. Further, Albertans are cautioned not to provide their banking log in credentials to anyone even to what they may believe to be a legitimate lender.
Case # CA22488268/5020