The Edmonton Police Service says collaboration with ethical hackers, U.S. law enforcement, and other agencies has helped prevent more than $42 million in potential losses to scammers since July 2025. Police say the initiative involves receiving intelligence about in-progress scams, contacting victims, and working with banks and service providers to disrupt fraudulent transfers before money is lost.

he Edmonton Police Service says it has helped prevent more than $42 million in potential fraud losses through a cross-border initiative involving ethical hackers and law enforcement agencies in Canada and the United States.

Police say the collaboration began in July 2025 and includes the United States Secret Service and the Collin County Sheriff’s Office in Texas. According to EPS, the initiative focuses on identifying active scams before victims lose money and disrupting fraudulent transfers while they are still in progress.

EPS Chief Warren Driechel said fraud has changed significantly in recent years, with scammers increasingly relying on cryptocurrency, digital platforms, and impersonation tactics to reach victims. Police said scammers often pretend to represent government agencies, including the Canada Revenue Agency or the RCMP, in an effort to intimidate victims into complying with fraudulent demands.

The service said the scale of these crimes led police to work with a network of ethical hackers, also described as scam baiters. These individuals provide law enforcement with intelligence about ongoing scams, including information that may help identify potential victims before funds are transferred.

EPS said the information has been shared with partner agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service, allowing officers to contact victims who may not have known they were being targeted. Police said the work has also helped launch multiple investigations that could lead to future prosecutions.

Since July 2025, law enforcement agencies have reportedly worked with more than 300 victims. EPS said the collaboration has involved contacting more than 50 law enforcement agencies in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, as well as engaging banks and service providers to freeze or stop suspicious financial activity.

Const. Brian Mason of EPS’s virtual investigations team said the harm caused by fraud can be severe and long-lasting. Victims can lose life savings, take on significant debt, and face consequences that extend well beyond the initial scam.

The Edmonton initiative highlights the increasingly international and technology-driven nature of modern fraud investigations. It also reflects a growing shift toward prevention and real-time disruption, rather than only investigating fraud after victims have already suffered financial losses.

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Originally published on Canadian Fraud News.