Threatening letter with white powder mailed to numerous residences in Toronto and Halton: police

Police are investigating a number of reports residents received threatening letters from an unknown sender with a bag of white powder in the Toronto and Halton Region.

The white powder was claimed to be fentanyl," Toronto police said Friday. Halton police added initial police analysis found it to be powdered sugar.

The letters demanded the recipient send Bitcoin currency to a quick response code (QR code) included on the letter and demanded that the recipient attend a Bitcoin automated teller machine to transfer funds," Halton police said.

These letters were shipped by mail and formally addressed the people who received them, police said.

The letters included threats to life and demanded that recipients send funds or harm would come to them and/ or their families (possibly by way of fentanyl poisoning)," Halton police said. It appears the letters were all delivered in the morning hours of Friday December 18, 2020."

Halton police advised the public this was an attempt at extortion and asked people not to send any funds related to the letter.

Investigators with Toronto police cautioned anyone who receives similar mail to try as much as possible not to handle it.

Place the envelope outside, preferably in a covered area, and cover it with an upside down garbage can or something similar to protect it," Toronto police said.

Toronto police further urged anyone who receives a similar envelope to contact police, so officers can retrieve it.

Manuela Vega is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: mvega@thestar.ca