EPS Partners With 'Ethical Hackers' to Stop $42M in Fraud
Edmonton Police and U.S. agencies disrupted scams by intercepting victim data and freezing accounts before money left Canada.
Edmonton Police Service has partnered with so-called "ethical hackers" and U.S. law enforcement to prevent more than $42 million in fraud losses since July 2025.
The strategy is straightforward but effective: scam-baiters intercept victim information in real-time during active scams, then share that intelligence with EPS. Working alongside the United States Secret Service and the Collin County Texas Sheriff's Office, the teams identify victims, contact them quickly, and ask banks to freeze accounts before money transfers complete.
It's a rare example of proactive fraud prevention working at scale. Most scam victims don't discover they've been hit until money's already gone. By catching the schemes mid-flow, EPS and its U.S. partners have managed to stop the bleeding before it starts.
The partnership highlights both the sophistication of modern fraud networks and the real possibility of disrupting them when agencies coordinate across borders. It's a reminder that Edmonton's police force is adapting to digital crime faster than the average Canadian city.