In July, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) received a tip-off about ongoing cyber crimes, leading to a partnership with ethical hackers, also known as scam baiters. These hackers infiltrate scam centers by initially posing as victims, gathering intelligence to assist police investigations. This collaboration has been instrumental in saving over $45 million for more than 300 victims globally. One significant success was in Maricopa, Arizona, where police were alerted just eight minutes before a victim was about to withdraw $20,000 at a bitcoin machine. The EPS, along with 50 police and banking groups, including the U.S. Secret Service, can freeze accounts and prevent losses in real time. The operation has primarily targeted scam centers in India, with additional locations in Pakistan, the country of Georgia, and the Balkans. Despite challenges in making arrests in these regions, the EPS emphasizes the importance of public reporting of fraud to enhance their tracking efforts.