Extortion Threats | Surrey Police Skip to main content Emergency 9-1-1 Non-Emergency 604-599-0502 City of Surrey Police Department Header Navigation Report a Crime Make a Report When To Call Police? 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An extortion is when an individual receives a demand for money with a threat of violence or intimidation. We are currently seeing a trend across Canada – including in Surrey – where individuals and businesses in predominantly South Asian communities are receiving threatening demands for money by letters, phone calls, text messages, or social media. Many of these threats are believed to extend beyond the boundaries of each city.    How SPS is tackling extortions Since Surrey began experiencing a spike in extortion threats and associated violence in June 2025, Surrey Police Service (SPS) has taken the following actions:  Our dedicated Surrey Extortion Tip Line is monitored 7 days a week from 9am-5pm (236-485-5149). The City of Surrey has provided a $250,000 reward fund available to individuals with key information about extortions in Surrey. SPS has assigned 15 sworn and civilian staff to the BC Extortion Task Force. This RCMP-led task force unites police resources from Abbotsford, Delta, Surrey, Metro Vancouver Transit Police, RCMP, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC (CFSEU-BC), and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). SPS also has an in-house team that investigates extortions that are not assigned to the provincial task force. SPS's "Project Assurance" team is providing daily patrols in and around extortion target locations to protect victims and disrupt criminal activity. SPS has met with police leaders from Abbotsford, Edmonton and Peel Region to share intelligence, investigative strategies, and best practices to further develop and refine our approach.   Project Assurance Project Assurance is SPS’s proactive response to the rise in extortion threats in Surrey. It is a multi-progged approach to combating this extortion crisis, focused on proactive patrols in high risk areas, community engagement and outreach, victim management, and technology and analysis. From proactive patrols, to curfew checks, vehicle-stops, and surveillance, our officers are helping to suppress extortion crimes and enforce the law.   Supporting victims and families Protecting and supporting victims remains one of our highest priorities, and we have implemented several important measures: Detailed, personalized safety plans for victims and their families A dedicated victim management team made up of SPS Victim Services staff and police officers Regular contact with victims to support safety and information sharing, and to provide tools and resources to deal with the trauma of being victimized Proactive teams dedicated to patrolling extortion target locations.   Enforcement results To date, a number of individuals have been charged with violent offences related to extortion investigations, and CBSA has removed some people from Canada. Police have executed a number of search warrants and several suspects have been arrested and questioned to advance our investigations. We are often asked why some individuals are arrested and later released. Under the Criminal Code, police may detain someone for up to 24 hours if there are reasonable grounds. In provinces like BC where charge approval is required by Crown Counsel, when additional evidence is required to support charges, police are legally obligated to release the individual after 24 hours, pending further investigation. This is part of due process and ensures that charges are upheld in court. View our page of arrested and charged Extortion Suspects Extortion Stats Expand All Extortion Stats for Surrey - 2026 As of Monday, July 6, 2026 131 reported extortions 20 related shots fired 2 arsons 71 victims (35 repeat)   Media Relations - Extortion-Related Statistics  As of Friday, July 3, 2026 407 extortion-related media inquires and responses 177 extortion-related media interviews 29 news releases and statements Historical Stats - 2025 Reported Extortions: 133 Extortion-related Shots Fired: 49 Extortion-related Arsons: 0 Victims: 88 (37 repeat) Historical Stats - 2024   Reported Extortions: 9 Extortion-related Shots Fired: 2 Keeping the community informed We recognize how important transparency is. While the integrity of investigations must be protected, SPS continues to provide as much information as possible. This has included dozens of news releases related to extortions, hundreds of media interviews (English and Punjabi), attendance at multiple community forums, a public awareness campaign to promote the tip line and reward fund, and providing updates during public Surrey Police Board meetings . SPS officers have also visited well over 1,000 businesses to provide information and encourage reporting.   Messages from Chief Lipinski To view all of Chief Lipinski's messages to the community please visit:  Extortion Updates What to do if you receive an extortion threat Call police immediately : 604-599-0502 or 9-1-1 in emergencies (translation services available) Do not pay or negotiate with criminals Keep all communications, including voice mails, text messages, or letters Write down any details you remember such as car model, description of criminal, etc.   View our Extortion Safety videos Tip line and reward fund If you have information about an extortion, please call the Surrey Extortion Tip Line at 236-485-5149. The phone line is monitored 7 days a week from 9am-5pm. Language services are available.   SPS has officers specially trained in dealing with sensitive information and Canada has laws that protect the confidentiality of people who provide information to police. The $250,000 Surrey Extortion Reward Fund was created by the City of Surrey to aid in the gathering of information of Surrey-related extortions. Those that provide specific information that leads to a conviction can receive up to $100,000. This is one of the largest police rewards in Canadian history. PLEASE NOTE: the tip line does not replace 9-1-1 as the means to alert police to in-progress incidents, nor is it for reporting extortions .   Reporting extortion If you are a victim of an extortion, report that extortion threat to police immediately. The most effective way to report an extortion is to call the police non-emergency line at 604-599-0502 ( in an emergency, call 9-1-1). Our Victim Services staff are also available to support victims and their families - call 604-599-7600.   Helping police tackle extortion Report any suspicious/unusual activity in your neighbourhood right away. Get involved in your local Block Watch . To find out if there is a Block Watch in your area, please contact blockwatch@surreypolice.ca. Check your surveillance systems to see if they work, and register your external cameras with Project Iris to let police know there are cameras in your area. If you have information, provide it to police. SPS has officers specially trained in dealing with sensitive information and Canada has laws that protect the confidentiality of people who provide information to police. The information you provide can help stop extortions and violence in your community.                  © 2026. Surrey Police Service Web Privacy Code