Charges laid in cryptocurrency fraud investigation
We have charged a man following a lengthy investigation into a cryptocurrency scam that resulted in the loss of more than $300,000 for a Calgary senior.
In June 2022, the victim was contacted by a man posing as her grandson, claiming he had been in a motor vehicle collision and was facing drug-related charges. The impersonator instructed the victim to contact his lawyer, who was also part of the scam, and directed her to make daily payments to secure bail and cover fictitious legal costs.
Over a six-week period, the victim was directed by the fictitious lawyer to deposit large amounts of money from her bank account into bitcoin ATMs. More than 300 separate deposits were made, amounting to a financial loss exceeding $300,000.
As the scam continued, the victim became suspicious and reported the incident to police.
Our Cybercrime and Blockchain Investigations Team began an investigation and identified a suspect who was residing in Quebec and was believed to be responsible for the scam.
In March 2023, investigators from the Calgary Police Service, with the assistance from the Longueuil Police Service, executed search warrants at a residence in Brossard, Que., and at a business in Montreal, Que., in relation to the incident.
This investigation involved extensive cross-provincial coordination and digital forensic analysis.
As a result, earlier this month, Jeremy RATTRAY, 34, of Brossard, Que., was charged with:
• One count of fraud over $5,000
• One count of laundering the proceeds of crime
• Two counts of identity theft
RATTRAY is next scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.
“We continue to remind the public to be aware of cryptocurrency scams. Fraudsters are increasingly impersonating family members, lawyers, or members of law enforcement agencies to manipulate victims, particularly seniors, into believing a loved one is in trouble,” says Acting Staff Sgt. Gary Novokowsky, of the Calgary Police Service Cybercrime Team. “If you receive a call asking you to withdraw funds or send money to unknown individuals, hang up and do not engage with the person.”
Additionally, investigators are seeing a growing trend where personal information such as names, addresses, dates of birth, and phone numbers, are being purchased on the dark web. This information is typically obtained through large-scale data breaches and is used by scammers to make their stories more convincing and appear legitimate. If you’ve ever received a scam call where the caller already knew your name or personal details, it is likely the result of your information being compromised and Calgarians should be aware of this tactic.
Calgarians are reminded of the following tips to protect themselves from financial scams:
· Be suspicious of unexpected and unusual phone calls, especially ones demanding some form of urgent action, financial or otherwise.
· Do not share personal details, financial information or send money to the unknown caller.
· Our officers will never ask you to transfer money, cryptocurrency or gift cards as part of an investigation or suggest transactions as a way to guard your finances.
Anyone who has suffered a financial loss or who has had their personal information compromised because of fraud can report it to the Calgary Police Service by contacting the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers using any of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips
If you have received a fraudulent text message, email or phone call but have not sustained a financial loss, please report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
CA22325480/5136