Overview
- FinTRAC, which disclosed Thursday it had made more than 100 extortion intelligence reports this year, said the cases involve over 300 subjects and more than 63,000 transactions.
- The agency issued a special bulletin with red‑flag tips for banks and other firms to spot coerced payments moved by email money transfer, cash deposits, cheques or cryptocurrency.
- The bulletin says extortion of South Asian business owners has become a coordinated campaign with threats, shootings and arson across British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, and notes victims often accept smaller installment payments under duress.
- FinTRAC links the schemes to transnational groups including the Bishnoi and Bambiha gangs and says recruiters use financially vulnerable Indian international students as money mules or enforcers.
- Finance Minister François‑Philippe Champagne says the federal plan focuses on tracing funds with law enforcement and industry as leaders in Surrey and Brampton push for stronger emergency measures.