Calgary authorities have arrested four individuals from Quebec in connection with a cyberattack plot aimed at customers of an online lending company. The scheme involved bombarding victims with thousands of phone calls in a single day, causing significant disruptions.
The Cybercrime Team of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) wrapped up a thorough two-and-a-half-year investigation into the online loan company suspected of launching Telephony Denial of Service (TDoS) attacks against its customers. These attacks flooded the victims’ phone lines with an overwhelming number of calls, reaching into the thousands within a 24-hour timeframe.
The investigation was sparked in December 2022 when a citizen reported being a target of a TDoS attack, an act that interferes with telephone services by inundating the line with calls. Subsequent probes revealed that Sonic Cash 500, an online lending firm used by the victim, was believed to be behind the malicious actions.
Following the trail, CPS’ Cybercrime Team uncovered five more victims who had fallen prey to similar TDoS assaults. These attacks rendered their phone lines unusable, impacting not only the victims themselves but also their families, friends, employers, and even local establishments like a shopping mall and a diagnostic imaging provider in Calgary.
The investigation ultimately led officers to discover that the company responsible was operating out of Quebec. In February 2024, search warrants were executed at multiple locations in Laval and Montreal, resulting in the seizure of numerous documents and over 200 electronic devices, effectively halting the company’s operations and preventing further victimization.
Charges have been brought against Steven Mancini, Johnny Rioux, Scott Geddes, and Megan Wartoukian, all residents of Quebec, for offenses including extortion, harassing communications, and fraud. The accused individuals are scheduled to appear in a Calgary court in the upcoming month to face these charges.
Calgary residents who have been targeted by cyber-enabled crimes are urged to report such incidents to the Calgary Police Service. Additionally, anyone with information regarding cybercrimes targeting Calgarians can provide tips to law enforcement or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
In a related warning, the Alberta government advises consumers to be cautious of borrowing from high-cost credit or unlicensed payday lenders in the province. Citizens can verify a lender’s license under the Consumer Protection Act to ensure legitimacy and are advised never to disclose their banking login credentials to any party, even if they appear to be a reputable lender.
