More than 1.5 million Canadian Crime Stoppers tips leaked, CBC exclusive finds

cbc ^

[algore]

When Andrew Rivard spotted a Crime Stoppers ad offering a $2,000 reward for tips in the winter of 2025, he decided to report what he knew about illegal cigarette sales in his neighbourhood.

Rivard’s original tip shows he disclosed his full name. He says he trusted the organization’s long-standing promise to protect the identities of all tipsters.

"I was told nothing would come of it; no one would come to me with, you know, I guess, resentment," Rivard said. "I just was hoping it would be that exactly — anonymous."

But the Manitoba man's report — along with information from more than 1.5 million other tips submitted to Canadian Crime Stoppers programs over the last 25 years — was exposed in a massive data breach, an exclusive CBC investigation has found.

The personal information captured in some compromised tips was detailed enough for CBC to contact more than a dozen tipsters — including Rivard — who reacted with shock and fear for their safety.

"It’s very scary, to be honest," said Rivard, who now worries his home address and phone number may be used by criminals for retaliation.

The data was stolen last March by hacktivist collective Internet Yiff Machine. In a manifesto, the group said it wanted to disprove the claim by P3 Global Intel — the company hired by Crime Stoppers to manage its tips — that the platform was "anonymous" and "secure."

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TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS:

[Kriggerel]

We always come back around to the same, fundamental truth that will *NEVER* change: "Snitches get stitches, and wind up in ditches."

[LouieFisk]

“now worries his home address and phone number may be used by criminals for retaliation”
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So, of course, the guy makes sure they get his pic to go with the article.

[Harpotoo]

interesting timing on this article. Didnt trump announce a Fraud tip line today?

[BobL]

“So, of course, the guy makes sure they get his pic to go with the article.”

Yep, and a bit re-touching of the picture gives you his face, CLEAR AS DAY.

[Jacquerie]

Don’t worry about data breaches.

Worry about FLOK cameras.

[jerod]

The vast majority of smokers in Canada smoke illegal cigarettes... So much so, that the cops rarely investigate it unless it’s a transport truck full of them... And even if they do catch the odd truck leaving from the Indian reserves where the cigarettes are made and then distributed to First nation reserves throughout the country... There are another 99 transport trucks that they don’t catch.

Cigarettes can be bought for $15 to $20 per carton... Government sanctioned cigarettes sell for $15 to $20+ per package... There is no competition, and no reason for anybody to pay the exorbitant prices unless they live far from a reservation... But most people are within driving distance to the First nation reserves scattered throughout Canada.

So if this dude is worried about being outed for informing on his neighbor... He can likely forget about it. Nobody was even likely convicted from his ‘tip’.

[LouieFisk]

“a bit re-touching of the picture gives you his face, CLEAR AS DAY.”
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Indeed, took me just two clicks using a very basic image viewing program - gamma correct, then contrast.

[BradyLS]

Zackly.