Edmonton Journal has reported:

Wood Buffalo RCMP have identified an Ontario man accused of defrauding the Fort McMurray Métis local government of approximately $857,000 in a spear-phishing scam. Police have issued an arrest warrant for Roland Carson, 58, who has been charged with multiple fraud and money-laundering offences. The investigation began in November 2021, after the local government reported being targeted and sending large sums of money to someone it believed was a legitimate source.

Spear phishing is a targeted cyberattack in which criminals use personal information to trick individuals or organizations into disclosing confidential information or granting system access. The attacks can result in data breaches and significant financial losses. Police say they believe Carson was responsible for the fraud and are asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact Wood Buffalo RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

The Métis government described the harm the incident caused following the RCMP announcement. Kelly Myers, McMurray Métis district captain, told Fort McMurray Today: “It was absolutely devastating,”

“To have to stand in front of our citizens and declare that this has happened when we thought everything was safe and secure, it was absolutely devastating.” Myers said the organization was grateful for the RCMP’s commitment and sustained work over the lengthy investigation.

When the fraud occurred, the not-for-profit organization had recently broken ground on the McMurray Métis Cultural Centre. Construction was halted in October 2022 because of funding shortfalls and what the organization called insufficient planning. The account of the project’s halt came alongside the organization’s description of the incident’s impact.

Myers said the fraud led the organization to reinforce its financial controls and cybersecurity practices. New financial procedures and security measures have been put in place, she said, and mandatory training has been introduced for all staff to help prevent a similar incident.

The arrest warrant means police are seeking Carson, who is described as an Ontario man. RCMP have not provided further details in the source account about the alleged transactions, the investigation’s specific methods or the timing of any court proceedings. The organization’s response has included changes to staff training and its financial and security procedures, while police continue seeking information on Carson’s whereabouts.