Community

Abbotsford Tulip Festival · Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC)

Stronger Together

Extortion is a crime that silences, isolates, and subjugates its victims, leaving them feeling desperate and alone. Community is the antidote.

This page connects you to trusted partners, ways to get involved, and resources for bringing prevention education to your organization. You are not alone, and together we can protect our communities.

Partner Organizations

We aim to work with trusted community organizations and are developing a partner review process. These partners provide direct support, cultural understanding, and trusted services. They have experience helping newcomers and established residents navigate difficult situations.

Settlement & Immigrant Services

These organizations offer multilingual support, counseling, and can help connect you to resources in your language:

DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society

• Services available in English, Français, Punjabi, Hindi, and 40+ other languages
• Settlement services, counseling, and crisis support
• Locations throughout Surrey and Metro Vancouver
• 604-597-0205

MOSAIC

• Comprehensive settlement and integration services
• Multilingual counseling and family programs
• Victim services and support navigation
• 604-254-9626

PICS (Progressive Intercultural Community Services)

• Settlement, employment, and family services
• Community outreach programs
• Multilingual support
• 604-596-7722

S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

• Counseling and mental health services
• Settlement and integration support
• Family and youth programs
• 604-684-1628

💡 Tip: These organizations can help you access services even if you’re not a recent immigrant. Many programs are available to all community members.

Places of Worship — Community Anchors

Gurdwaras, mandirs, mosques, and other places of worship are trusted gathering spaces where people turn in times of need. We seek to partner with faith communities to:

• Distribute prevention information
• Host community awareness sessions
• Provide referrals to support services
• Offer a trusted space to talk

If your gurdwara, mandir, mosque, or place of worship wants to partner with us, see Become a Partner below.

Faith Community Partnerships

Partnerships are being developed. Public partner listings will appear only with explicit organizational consent.

We respect the sacred role these spaces play. Our partnerships focus on education and support — never investigation or enforcement.

Cultural & Community Associations

Cultural associations play a vital role in connecting community members, preserving traditions, and supporting families. We work with these organizations to reach community members through trusted channels.

Examples of association types we partner with:

• Regional and cultural associations (e.g., Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil associations)
• Professional associations serving South Asian communities
• Youth and student organizations
• Seniors’ groups and cultural centres
• Business associations and chambers of commerce

Interested in partnering? See below or contact us.

Volunteer — Get Involved

This work depends on community members stepping up. You don’t need special qualifications — just a willingness to help and a commitment to our principles.

Ways to Help

🌐 Translation & Language Review Help us make resources accessible in English, Français, Punjabi, Hindi, and other languages. We need:

• Translators who can adapt content (not just word-for-word)
• Native speakers to review translations for accuracy and cultural fit
• People who can help with audio/video content in other languages

📣 Community Outreach Help spread the word through your networks:

• Distribute materials at community events
• Share information through your organization, temple, or mosque
• Connect us with community leaders who should know about these resources
• Help identify gaps in our coverage

🎤 Workshop Facilitation Lead or co-facilitate prevention workshops:

• Training provided — no prior experience needed
• Present to community groups, workplaces, seniors’ centres, youth groups
• Help adapt presentations for specific audiences

🔍 Content Research Help us keep information accurate and up-to-date:

• Research official resources and reporting pathways
• Fact-check content against authoritative sources
• Monitor for changes in extortion tactics (using official sources only)
• Review content for cultural sensitivity

Technical Skills If you have technical skills, we can use help with:

• Website maintenance and accessibility
• Data visualization (for public dashboards)
• Privacy and security review

Who We’re Looking For

You might be a great fit if you:

• ✅ Are passionate about community safety
• ✅ Have connections to South Asian communities in Canada
• ✅ Speak English, Français, Punjabi, Hindi, or other languages
• ✅ Understand the cultural context around stigma, family, and honour
• ✅ Are patient and non-judgmental
• ✅ Can commit to even a few hours per month
• ✅ Agree to our principles (no vigilantism, no investigation, privacy-first)

You don’t need:

• ❌ Professional credentials
• ❌ Prior experience with extortion cases
• ❌ Technical skills (unless volunteering for technical work)
• ❌ To be an expert — we’ll train you

Volunteer Application

Interested in volunteering? Fill out our volunteer interest form:

Volunteer Interest Form →

Or email us at: volunteer@stop-extortion.ca

Please tell us:

1. Your name and how to contact you
2. What you’d like to help with (translation, outreach, workshops, research, other)
3. Languages you speak
4. Any relevant experience (optional)
5. How much time you can commit (even 2-3 hours/month helps!)

We aim to respond within one week.

Request a Workshop

Prevention education works. We currently offer workshops free where capacity allows for community organizations, workplaces, places of worship, schools, and other groups.

What Workshops Cover

Our workshops are designed to be practical, culturally informed, and accessible:

Core Content:

• How extortion scams work (patterns, tactics, red flags)
• How to protect yourself and your family
• What to do if you receive a threat
• How to preserve evidence safely
• When and how to report
• How to talk to family members (reducing stigma)
• Where to find help (emotional, legal, financial)

We adapt workshops for:

• Seniors (simplified, focused on phone/text extortion)
• Youth and students (extortion awareness)
• Families (how to talk to each other, support victims)
• Workplaces (employee awareness, what managers should know)
• Faith communities (how places of worship can support members)
• Service providers (recognizing signs, making appropriate referrals)

Workshop formats:

• In-person (1-2 hours, we come to you)
• Virtual (via Zoom or your preferred platform)
• Available in English, Français, Punjabi, Hindi — other languages by request

How to Request a Workshop

Workshop request forms are being developed. In the meantime, please email us at workshops@stop-extortion.ca with the following information:

• Organization name and type
• Contact person and best way to reach you
• Approximate audience size
• Preferred dates/times (or flexibility)
• Audience type (seniors, youth, families, employees, etc.)
• Language preference
• Any specific topics you’d like emphasized

Step 2: We’ll Follow Up

We’ll aim to contact you within 5 business days to:

• Confirm details and audience
• Discuss any customization
• Schedule the workshop
• Provide any materials you need in advance

Step 3: Workshop Delivery

We’ll come to you (or connect virtually) at the scheduled time. Workshops are free and include:

• Presentation by trained facilitator
• Q&A time
• Printed take-home materials (or digital resources for virtual)
• Follow-up resources for your organization

Workshop FAQ

Q: How much does this cost? A: Workshops are currently offered free where capacity allows. We are developing a sustainable funding and partnership model.

Q: What if our group’s members only speak Punjabi (or another language)? A: We have facilitators who can present in English, Français, Punjabi, and Hindi. For other languages, we can work with you to arrange interpretation.

Q: Can we record the workshop to share later? A: Yes, with advance notice. We’ll provide a version appropriate for recording.

Q: What do we need to provide? A: Just a space, a screen/projector (for in-person), and your audience. We bring everything else.

Q: How far in advance should we book? A: Ideally 2-3 weeks, but we can sometimes accommodate shorter timelines.

Community Advisories

We publish regular Community Advisories — anonymized, aggregated alerts about active extortion patterns. These help community members recognize threats without providing details that could help criminals.

What Advisories Include

• 📊 Trend summaries: What types of extortion are we seeing more of?
• 🚩 Red flags: Specific phrases, tactics, or payment methods to watch for
• 🗓️ Timing patterns: When scams tend to peak
• 🆕 New variations: How scammers are adapting their approaches
• ✅ What’s working: Prevention tips that are making a difference

What Advisories Never Include

• ❌ Individual case details
• ❌ Victim information (names, locations, amounts)
• ❌ Suspect information or identifying details
• ❌ Operational details that could help criminals refine their methods
• ❌ Unverified rumors or speculation

Community Brief

Our primary advisory is the Community Brief, published regularly.

View Latest News & Analysis →

Subscribe to receive the brief:

• Email: info@stop-extortion.ca
• WhatsApp: Contact us to be added to the advisory distribution list

The Community Brief includes:

• Top patterns observed recently
• Community tips and reminders
• Links to new resources
• Partner news and events

Advisory Sources

Our advisories are based on:

• Official sources: RCMP, local police, CAFC, BC Government
• Partner reports: From trusted community organizations
• Aggregated community reports: Anonymized patterns from reports we receive
• Media monitoring: News reports (verified only)

We never use unverified tips, social media rumors, or information that could compromise police investigations.

Become a Partner

Is your organization interested in working with us? We’re building a network of trusted partners across Metro Vancouver and beyond.

Who Should Partner With Us

• Places of worship: Gurdwaras, mandirs, mosques, churches, temples
• Cultural associations: Regional, professional, or community-based
• Settlement agencies: Beyond our core partners listed above
• Mental health & counseling services: Especially culturally informed providers
• Legal aid organizations: Providing free/low-cost legal help
• Educational institutions: Schools, colleges, universities
• Seniors’ organizations: Community centres, care homes
• Youth organizations: Student groups, sports leagues, cultural programs
• Business associations: Chambers of commerce, professional networks
• Media outlets: South Asian media, community newspapers, radio stations

What Partnership Looks Like

Partnerships are flexible and based on what makes sense for your organization:

You might:

• Display our materials or share our resources
• Host a prevention workshop
• Include our information in your newsletters or communications
• Refer people to our resources when appropriate
• Provide feedback on our content (especially translations)
• Help us understand what your community needs
• Participate in our advisory network (receive early alerts)

We will:

• Provide free materials and resources
• Offer training for your staff or volunteers
• Include your organization in our partner directory (with permission)
• Consult you on content relevant to your community
• Share relevant advisories before public release
• Support your events with speakers or materials

Partnership Principles

All partnerships are built on shared values:

1. Victim safety first — Everything we do prioritizes the safety of people being targeted
2. No vigilantism — We do not investigate, track, or expose anyone
3. Privacy protection — We never share personal information about victims
4. Cultural respect — We meet communities where they are, without judgment
5. Transparency — We’re clear about who we are and what we do

How to Become a Partner

Step 1: Express Interest

Fill out our partnership inquiry form:

Partnership Inquiry Form →

Or email us at: partners@stop-extortion.ca

Please tell us:

• Organization name and type
• Your role/contact information
• What drew you to this work
• What type of partnership interests you
• Any questions or ideas

Step 2: Introductory Conversation

We’ll schedule a call to:

• Learn about your organization
• Discuss what partnership could look like
• Answer your questions
• Ensure alignment on principles

Step 3: Formalize Partnership

For ongoing partnerships, we’ll create a simple partnership agreement that outlines:

• What each party will do
• How we’ll communicate
• How to handle any concerns

Step 4: Collaborate

We’ll add you to our partner network and begin working together!

A Note on Community Solidarity

This work is about solidarity, not vigilantism.

We understand the anger that extortion causes. When someone threatens your family, the instinct to fight back is natural. But our approach is different:

• We support victims, not hunt criminals
• We educate communities, not investigate cases
• We strengthen reporting, not bypass authorities
• We break isolation, not enable retaliation

The best revenge is a community that protects its own — through information, support, and collective action.

When we all know the signs, when we all know where to turn, when no one has to suffer alone — extortionists lose their power.

That’s the community we’re building. Join us.

Contact

General community inquiries:
info@stop-extortion.ca

Volunteer inquiries:
volunteer@stop-extortion.ca

Workshop requests:
workshops@stop-extortion.ca

Partnership inquiries:
partners@stop-extortion.ca

Media & Community Briefings

When community leaders speak to media, local officials, or anxious neighbours, the message must be accurate, defensible, and calm. These talking points trace directly to dated Surrey Police Service reports.

Core Facts

• Extortion targeting Surrey’s South Asian community went from near-zero to a sustained monthly presence over 2025, peaking at 44 police files in a single month in January 2026.
• This is not a one-month spike — the pattern has held for eight straight months.
• Two-thirds of files are concentrated in one district, which tells investigators where to look.
• Extortion and shots-fired rose together, pointing to coercive enforcement rather than ordinary fraud.
• These are police files, not victim counts. Early-period percentages rise off a very low base.
• Every figure traces to a dated Surrey Police Service report.

Framing Notes

If asked “Is this getting worse?”

The numbers show a sustained pattern, not a one-month spike. What matters is that we have eight months of consistent police files, which means this is real and ongoing.

If asked “Should people be afraid?”

People should be informed, not afraid. Fear helps extortionists. What helps victims is knowing how to report, who to call, and that their community stands with them.

If asked “What can the community do?”

Three things: encourage reporting, reduce shame so people feel safe to speak up, and connect people to victim services and police. We do not investigate or confront anyone — that is law enforcement’s role.

If asked about percentages or “1,008% increase”

That percentage is mathematically correct but misleading. It rises off a base of 12 files. The honest story is “near-zero to sustained presence.” The monthly file count is the measure that matters.

Source: Surrey Police Service Crime Statistics Reports (PRIME RMS), January 2025 – April 2026. Surrey Police Service became police of jurisdiction on 29 November 2024. Counts are police files, not victims. Data are preliminary and subject to revision.

View full Media & Community Briefings on the Incubator →

Last reviewed: June 2026 · Next review: September 2026