4 Charged in Sophisticated Cybercrime Operation Targeting Online Loan Customers
Four individuals have been charged in connection with a sophisticated cybercrime operation that targeted customers of an online loan company. The incident involved a telephony denial of service (TDoS) attack, rendering victims' phone lines unusable.
The Calgary Police's cybercrime unit reported that the operation was carried out by a company based in Quebec. In February 2024, a search warrant resulted in the seizure of thousands of documents and over 200 electronic devices from the company's premises.
The TDoS attack, which occurred in December 2022, targeted a resident who had taken a loan from Sonic Cash 500. The resident reported the incident to the Calgary police, leading to the investigation. The attack involved thousands of phone calls to victims over a 24-hour period, affecting a total of six individuals, including a Calgary shopping mall and a diagnostic imaging provider.
Scott Geddes and Megan Wartoukian are among those charged with extortion and harassing communications. Steven Mancini and Johnny Rioux are also charged with extortion, harassing communications, fraud over $5,000, and criminal interest rate. All accused are expected to appear in court in Calgary on November 4 and 5, 2024.
The incident highlights the growing sophistication of cyber-enabled crimes. The Calgary Police's cybercrime unit continues to investigate such offenses and urges the public to report any suspicious activities.
