Woman charged after email fraud
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.
One woman has been charged after a five-month multi-jurisdictional investigation into an email scam that defrauded a local business out of more than $255,000.
On Monday, May 5, 2025, a Calgary-based oil field supply company reported they had been defrauded of more than $255,000 after they discovered a payment the company sent had been intercepted.
Investigators believe the company’s email had been infiltrated and a legitimate invoice was subtly altered. As a result, their email was intercepted and the payment was redirected to a fraudulent bank account.
Upon further investigation, the fraudulent bank account was discovered, where officers also discovered an additional deposit of $10,000 fraudulently obtained from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
On Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, with the help of the Edmonton Police Service, four warrants were executed in Edmonton and cash and several items were seized including:
· $17,830 CAD
· $1,414 USD
· 10 digital devices
Investigators worked closely with partners and the financial institution where the stolen funds had been fraudulently transferred, successfully recovering and returning the full $265,000 to the company and the CRA.
One woman has now been charged.
Rosswida TJIUEZA, 38, of Edmonton, Alta., has been charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000 and two counts of proceeds of crime over $5,000.
She will next appear in court in Edmonton on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025.
“Cyber fraud investigations are often highly complex, involving multiple jurisdictions, digital forensics, and co-ordinated law enforcement efforts,” says District 2 Insp. Keith Hurley. “This fraud underscores how sophisticated cybercriminals can exploit business communications to redirect substantial funds without immediate detection.”
“Cybercrime doesn’t stop at jurisdictional boundaries, which is why law enforcement agencies work closely together to find and charge those responsible, regardless of where the crime is committed,” says Det. Bryan Macaulay, with the Edmonton Police Service’s Investigative Response Team.
As we mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it’s a timely reminder for organizations to strengthen their cybersecurity practices and remain vigilant against evolving threats. Preventative measures can include:
· Use virus protection software. Anti-virus software recognizes and protects your computer against most known viruses. However, attackers are continually writing new viruses, so it is important to keep your anti-virus software current.
· Keep your computer software current. Install software patches and updates so that attackers can't take advantage of known problems or vulnerabilities. You should also consider allowing automatic software updates.
· Use caution with email attachments and items requiring downloading.
· Install a firewall, which may be able block malicious traffic before it can enter your computer. Some operating systems actually include a firewall, but you need to make sure it is enabled.
· Set your web browser security level to medium or high.
· Be cautious when using Peer-to-Peer software.
· Spyware is a common source of viruses, but you can minimize the number of infections by using a legitimate program that identifies and removes spyware.
· Change your passwords on a regular basis and make them hard to guess by using numbers and special characters. This includes passwords for web sites.
Investigators would like to thank several partner agencies who provided critical support to this investigation, including FINTRAC, the Edmonton Police Service, Crime Stoppers, and Service Alberta-Special Investigations Unit, Smith Falls Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, London Police Service and Surrey Police Service.
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 cybercrime that is targeting Calgarians can also report it to police, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips
Case# CA25187001/5132