9 Quebecers arrested in connection with loan shark websites

A stack of money. (Pixabay/pexels.com)

Nine people in Quebec have been arrested in connection with loan shark websites.

The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) explains that the arrests follow an investigation that began in 2021.

“[It] targeted several sites operating out of Quebec that were making usurious loans across the country at illegal interest rates and using extortion techniques to collect on the loans,” the SQ states.

The nine people arrested are facing various charges, including fraud over $5,000, criminal interest rates, identity theft, harassment and extortion.

The websites targeted in the investigation include:

• Truepaydayloans.ca
• Cashbuddy500.com
• Speedypayloans.ca
• Cash2gonow.com
• Soniccash500.com

The SQ’s investigation was in collaboration with Calgary police and the Alberta’s Consumer Investigations Unit (CIU).

Anyone with information about suspected criminal acts or events is encouraged to contact the Sûreté du Québec’s Criminal Information Centre at 1-800-659-4264.