Warrant issued for man accused of defrauding Calgarian with ruse of stolen passport
Posted Oct 8, 2025 11:09 am.
Last Updated Oct 8, 2025 2:03 pm.
Calgary police have issued a warrant for a man accused of defrauding at least one person in the city last month.
Investigators say around 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5, a man approached the victim at the Calgary Central Library and struck up a conversation with him, bonding over their shared Korean heritage.
The man claimed he was visiting from Toronto and that his wallet and ID had been stolen.
He said he needed $1,500 cash to get his passport and offered to wire transfer the same amount to the victim in exchange for cash.
Police explain the victim agreed, accepting the wire transfer and turning over $1,000 cash and $500 worth of gift cards to the suspect the following day.
But, the victim soon learned the transfer was fake, from an account that was closed and empty.
He tried to contact the man, but his phone number was no longer in service.
The victim then reported the incident to police.
Investigators have since issued a warrant for 53-year-old Man Soek Choi, of no fixed address, for one count of fraud under $5,000.
He is described as 5’8″ tall and around 208 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone who may know where Choi is or has any other information about this case is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234 or tipping anonymously through CrimeStoppers.
