CALGARY / EDMONTON NEWS

Police from Calgary, Edmonton and the RCMP are asking for the public’s help in locating a suspect in an ATM fraud scheme. The man has allegedly been targeting elderly or invalid victims.Police say 46-year-old Bryan Andrew Casavant is wanted on Canada-wide warrants for being unlawfully at large and for breaching his release conditions.

He is also wanted for questioning in two fraud schemes in the Edmonton area in August. Police say he may be responsible for frauds as far east as Winnipeg last month.

Casavant is described as white and about 175 cm or 5' 9" tall and weighs about 127 kg or 280 lbs. He has blue eyes and closely cropped brown hair. Police say he is known to travel extensively between the Edmonton and Calgary areas.

Police say, in a previous scheme in Alberta in 2005 Casavant primarily targeted elderly, physically disabled or invalid women. In almost all cases, the victims were in area hospitals, medical facilities or extended care facilities, and were befriended by the suspect to gain their trust.

Police say Casavant told victims that he had recently returned from, or was leaving for, work overseas and had an abundance of cash. He would then allegedly say that he would like to help them with their medical expenses by depositing money into their accounts.

After gaining the victim’s trust, and obtaining the person's ATM card and PIN number, he would deposit an empty envelope and give the victim a receipt to “confirm” the money was put in their account. He would then offer to take out some money to buy groceries or other necessities, but would keep all or most of the money instead.

Anyone who knows of Casavant’s whereabouts is urged to call police at 266-1234 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.