Eight Charged in Major CRA Fraud Conspiracy
RCMP charges eight people, including four from the National Capital region, in a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting COVID-era benefits.
Eight people from Ottawa, Gatineau, and Montreal are now facing charges in a high-level cyber fraud that targeted the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) program during the pandemic.
The investigation, which began in August 2020 following what the RCMP describes as a "cyber attack" on the Canada Revenue Agency's online portal, uncovered a sophisticated scheme designed to exploit pandemic relief funds. Four of the eight accused are from the National Capital area, bringing this crime directly to Ottawa's doorstep.
The RCMP's International Anti-Corruption Team and Cybercrime Investigative Team worked together to unravel the network. The investigation revealed how fraudsters targeted the CRA's systems to divert CERB payments that were meant to support Canadians struggling during lockdowns. The sophistication of the scheme—combining cyber skills with fraudulent applications—suggests an organized operation rather than isolated bad actors.
This is one of several major fraud cases tied to the CERB rollout. While the government moved quickly to get money into people's hands during the crisis, that speed created vulnerabilities criminals were ready to exploit. The charges represent months of investigative work and signal that law enforcement is treating these crimes seriously.