Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025

File: 24-45618

Victoria, B.C. – VicPD successfully recovered approximately $80,000 in cryptocurrency funds stolen from an 84-year-old Victoria resident following a complex tech support scam. This case marks the first time newly enacted digital asset seizure legislation has been utilized in British Columbia, showcasing VicPD’s commitment to innovation in combating cyber crime.

In December 2024, the victim contacted police after discovering unauthorized transfers from his cryptocurrency accounts. The investigation revealed he had been targeted by a sophisticated tech support scam. While experiencing technical issues with his cell phone, the victim used a voice assistant to locate the phone number for TELUS Tech Support and initiated a call. The individual who answered claimed to be with TELUS, gained remote access to the victim’s phone under the guise of providing assistance, and actually resolved the initial technical issue.

Subsequently, the victim discovered $110,000 had been fraudulently transferred from his cryptocurrency accounts, which he accessed through the same device. VicPD investigators quickly traced the funds through several accounts on a cryptocurrency exchange, identifying a suspect residing in South Africa. See the crypto tracing chart the here.

Leveraging new federal legislation enacted in 2024, VicPD investigators obtained a Special Warrant to Seize Digital Assets. This allowed officers to freeze the compromised cryptocurrency accounts and seize a significant portion of the funds, returning them to the victim in May 2025. The federal legislation, introduced in the House of Commons under Bill C-47, led to the creation of section 462.321 of the Criminal Code that gives police authority to search for and seize digital assets, including virtual currency.

“We are proud to be the first police agency in B.C. to utilize this new legislation, demonstrating our commitment to staying ahead of emerging cybercrime trends and protecting our community,” said Sergeant Simon de Wit, Supervisor of the Cyber Crime Unit. “This legislation provides us with a crucial tool to pursue and recover stolen digital assets and aids us in our fight against these increasingly sophisticated scams.”

VicPD reminds the public that time is of the essence when dealing with cryptocurrency fraud. Reporting incidents to police immediately increases the likelihood of successfully recovering stolen funds before they are moved beyond reach.

If you have been a victim of cryptocurrency fraud, report it to the E-Comm Report Desk at (250) 995-7654, extension 1, and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Learn more by visiting vicpd.ca/fraud.

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