Calgary police have slapped Jeremy Rattray, a 34-year-old Brossard, Quebec resident, with serious charges following an elaborate cryptocurrency scam that drained over $300,000 from a Calgary senior.
The charges include fraud over $5,000, money laundering, and two counts of identity theft, with Rattray scheduled to appear in Calgary court on August 12, 2025.
The scheme unfolded like a bad movie plot, but with real-life consequences.
Rattray allegedly impersonated the victim’s grandson, claiming to be in legal trouble.
In an outrageous case of elder exploitation, the suspect allegedly posed as the victim’s grandson in desperate legal jeopardy.
A second impostor, posing as a lawyer, instructed the senior to make daily deposits into multiple bitcoin ATMs over a six-week period, resulting in over 300 separate transactions.
Bitcoin ATMs—those kiosk-like machines that exchange cash for cryptocurrency—became the unwitting accomplices in this digital heist.
The victim only realized the deception after weeks of sustained payments, by which time their bank account had been substantially depleted.
The investigation required cross-provincial coordination between Calgary’s cybercrime team and the Longueuil Police Service to identify and apprehend the suspect.
Calgary’s cybercrime and blockchain investigations team led the inquiry, partnering with Longueuil Police Service in Quebec.
Digital forensic analysis helped trace the digital breadcrumbs across provincial lines, culminating in search warrants executed at both a Brossard residence and a Montreal business in March 2023.
This case highlights a disturbing trend in fraud targeting seniors.
Scammers are increasingly exploiting emotional vulnerabilities through family impersonation tactics, often using personal details likely sourced from dark web data breaches.
The fraudsters crafted a narrative involving a fictitious car accident and drug charges, creating a sense of urgency that bypassed the victim’s usual caution.
The victim was first contacted in June 2022 and continued making payments before eventually developing suspicions about the legitimacy of the transactions.
Staying vigilant against scams is crucial to protecting personal investments, especially for vulnerable populations who may be less familiar with cryptocurrency technology.
Calgary Police report a concerning surge in similar cases, with more than 30 reports since January resulting in $43,000 in losses.
Authorities emphasize that legitimate law enforcement will never instruct citizens to transfer funds via cryptocurrency or gift cards in legal situations.
Despite the charges, the victim’s funds remain unrecovered, serving as a sobering reminder of cryptocurrency’s appeal to scammers—once transferred, these digital assets can be notoriously difficult to trace and recover.
