4 Quebecers arrested in connection with Alberta cybercrimes

Calgary police have charged four Quebec residents with cybercrimes after victims in the city were targeted by telephony denial of service (TDoS) attacks - a scheme that causes a severe disruption to a phone line. (Pexels/Anna Tarazevich)

Four Quebec residents face cybercrime charges after Calgary police say they targeted customers of an online loan company with “an overwhelming” number of phone calls.

Police say the incident, called telephony denial of service or TDoS, resulted in thousands of calls to victims over a 24-hour period.

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In December 2022, police were contacted by a resident who said they had been targeted with a TDoS after arranging for a loan from a company called Sonic Cash 500.

An investigation later determined that five other individuals were similarly attacked.

“These attacks rendered phone lines unusable for victims, their families, friends and employers, including a Calgary shopping mall and a diagnostic imaging provider,” police said in a Wednesday news release.

As the investigation progressed, police learned the company was operating out of Quebec.

A search warrant was executed at five locations in Laval and Montreal in February 2024, where thousands of documents and more than 200 electronic devices were seized.

Police said the raid “significantly disrupted the operations of this company.”

On Sept. 24 and 25, Calgary investigators, with the support of Quebec police agencies, arrested four people in connection with the operation.

Steven Mancini, 41, and Johnny Rioux, 43, of Laval are charged with one count each of extortion, harassing communications, fraud over $5,000 and criminal interest rate.

Scott Geddes, 44, and Megan Wartoukian, 35, of Montreal are each charged with extortion and harassing communications.

Police say the investigation illustrates “the growing sophistication of cyber-enabled crimes.”

“CPS cybercrime investigators are highly trained, and for over two and a half years, they worked diligently with partners across Canada to identify and disrupt a network that was causing real harm to individuals and businesses,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Nolan with the CPS cyber/forensics unit.

All the accused are expected to appear in court in Calgary on Nov. 4 and 5.