Toronto Crime Stoppers shutting down tip line ‘immediately’ after data breach

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Toronto Crime Stoppers is not accepting information from the public “effective immediately” after a hacktivist group reportedly targeted the company that manages tips across Canada to show its platform is far from “secure.”

The temporary measure, which includes tips made by phone or online, was announced in a statement on Wednesday after a CBC investigation showed that hundreds of thousands of tips submitted to Crime Stoppers chapters across Canada over the last 25 years were exposed in a data breach.

“Until we have a safer way to protect you, please do not send us tips by phone, online or through the app,” Toronto chapter chair Sean Sportun said in a lengthy statement.

The organization said it has removed the “tip submit” feature from the 222tips.com website and reportedly told the National Anonymous Call Centre to stop accepting or processing new information.

Names, tips exposed in breach

It also confirmed that 14,973 names and 176,859 tips pertaining to Toronto alone were exposed in a March data breach that targeted its P3 software, adding that provider Navigate360 had “not told us whether those names belong to people who submitted tips, to people who were named in those tips or both.”

They said the stolen data dates from January 2022 to November 2025 and despite efforts to remove identification in tips submitted to cops, Crime Stoppers said some of the original information was exposed in the attack.

They also said Navigate360 had “repeatedly” told them that the P3 software was secure and that “Toronto’s data had not been taken.

“When it told us in June that Toronto’s data was affected, it didn’t say what was exposed,” Sportun said. “To date, we have still not seen the text of the stolen tips.

“We have been pressing for answers for months and continue to do so, especially in light of this week’s reporting.”

An email seeking a comment from Navigate360 was not immediately returned.

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Toronto cops suspending partnership

In a statement issued on Wednesday night, Toronto Police said they were aware of the data breach and were temporarily suspending the use of Crime Stoppers while they “assess the additional safeguards and security measures being implemented.”

Police also stressed that they are separate from Crime Stoppers and that their platforms are operated independently as well.

“Until that review is complete, members of the public who wish to provide information about crime or public safety concerns are encouraged to contact Toronto Police directly through our existing reporting channels,” they said. “While this does not provide the anonymity associated with the Crime Stoppers program, it will ensure information is received directly by investigators.”

Attack aimed to show software not ‘secure:’ Report

The CBC investigation published on Wednesday said that 1.5 million tips were exposed in an attacker by hacktivist group Internet Yiff Machine, which said in a manifesto that 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.'”

The report said the information was provided by the Distributed Denial of Secrets non-profit that publishes hacked and leaked documents deemed to be in the public interest.

In the meantime, Crime Stoppers warned they would never contact a tipster first and urged anyone in immediate danger to contact 911.

As for what comes next, Sportun’s statement said Crime Stoppers is seeking a better way to take tips and stronger rules for their software partner, while also pressing Navigate360 for answers.

“We know waiting is hard, especially for anyone worried about their safety,” he said. “We will keep pressing for answers and we will share what we learn as soon as we can.”

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