Hamilton Police Service has charged a 32-year-old man from Surrey, British Columbia in connection with a complex cyber-enabled fraud that resulted in the misappropriation of over half a million dollars from a City of Hamilton affiliate.
In February 2024, the City experienced a cyberattack that severely impacted internal systems and limited employee access to routine software and information. During the recovery period, manual workarounds were implemented to maintain essential operations, including vendor payments. This created an environment more vulnerable to human error and external manipulation.
In March 2024, a staff member at a municipal housing affiliate received what appeared to be a legitimate email from a known contractor. The email contained altered banking details for a vendor payment. Believing the information to be accurate, the staff member processed an electronic funds transfer for over $550,000—an amount far exceeding the actual invoice—into a bank account at a financial institution in Surrey.
The discrepancy was discovered later that month when the legitimate vendor reported not receiving payment. An internal review, supported by the City’s Auditor General and an independent forensic accounting firm, revealed that the funds had been deposited into an account connected to a numbered company. That company was traced back to a 32-year-old Surrey man, who quickly dispersed the funds across multiple newly opened accounts, including personal and business accounts at various Canadian banks.
Hamilton Police investigators, with the support of law enforcement partners in Surrey and Edmonton, gathered surveillance video, voice recordings, and banking records to identify the suspect and track the movement of the funds. Legal action led to the freezing of one account, which ultimately allowed for the recovery of approximately $417,000. However, the City sustained a financial loss of over $130,000, in addition to forensic and legal expenses. The City has indicated it will pursue restitution.
On July 7, 2025, the accused turned himself in to Hamilton Police at Central Station. He was arrested and later released on an Undertaking with several conditions, including the surrender of his passport. He is scheduled to appear in court on August 14, 2025.
Hamilton Police Service thanks all investigative partners who supported this multi-jurisdictional case and reminds the public that cyber threats remain a serious risk.
For those who wish to provide information anonymously, please consider reaching out to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at Crime Stoppers Hamilton's Website.
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