Eight Charged in $Million CRA Fraud Conspiracy
RCMP and cybercrime team charge Ottawa, Gatineau, and Montreal residents in high-level identity theft targeting CERB program.
Eight people from Ottawa, Gatineau, and Montreal are facing charges in a sophisticated cyber-fraud scheme that targeted the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) program during the pandemic's early days.
The RCMP's International Anti-Corruption Team and Cybercrime Investigative Team launched the investigation in August 2020, following the distribution of millions of dollars to Canadians through CERB, the federal program designed to support people during COVID-19 lockdowns. Fraudsters exploited the speed at which the Canada Revenue Agency processed claims.
The details remain sparse, but the breadth of the investigation—spanning Ontario and Quebec, involving sophisticated identity and cyber components—suggests a coordinated ring rather than isolated bad actors. The scheme represents millions in lost public funds and underscores vulnerabilities in rapid-deployment pandemic relief systems.
For Montreal residents, the case serves as a reminder that cybercrime doesn't respect provincial borders. The criminals charged here likely preyed on victims across Canada. The RCMP's pursuit signals that such schemes, even years after the fact, remain priorities.