Three charged after victims robbed, held against their will in dating scam

A Winnipeg woman and two men allegedly lured male victims on dating websites before robbing and holding them against their will, prompting safety reminders for people looking for love online.

Detectives with the Winnipeg Police Service’s major crimes unit, who laid charges in eight incidents that happened between February and August, believe there may be additional victims who’ve not yet come forward.

“It’s always possible because you have to realize that a few different dating platforms were used. That’s not to say they’re the only platforms that were used,” police spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said Tuesday, while declining to name the websites.

Some victims may not come forward because they feel embarrassed, he noted.

Victims reported meeting a woman on dating sites and arranging to meet at homes in St. Boniface or the North End, where they were confronted by male suspects at knifepoint and robbed of belongings, including wallets and car keys.

“They were then held within those residences against their will while some of the suspects would leave with their wallets and car keys,” Chancy said.

“They would steal the victim’s car and, with their personal information in hand, they would go and use credit cards, debit cards to purchase goods unlawfully… and they would also go to ATMs and take out money on the victim’s cards.”

The victims, who were uninjured, were allowed to leave when the suspects returned, Chancy said.

Detectives identified three suspects and two homes linked to the robberies — one in the 400 block of Eugenie Street in St. Boniface, and the other in the 500 block of Polson Avenue in the North End.

“They would steal the victim’s car and, with their personal information in hand, they would go and use credit cards, debit cards to purchase goods unlawfully.”

Some of the suspects lived in one of the homes, Chancy said. As for how the suspects are connected, police would only say they know each other.

Reena Lee Ducherer, 44, and Kelly William James Johnston, 51, were arrested Aug. 7. A 61-year-old man was arrested Aug. 8.

Ducherer’s charges include seven counts each of robbery, uttering threats and forcible confinement, one count of kidnapping, 13 counts of failing to comply with a release order and six counts of failing to comply with a recognizance.

Johnston is charged with eight counts each of robbery, forcible confinement and disguise with intent, seven counts of uttering threats and one count of kidnapping. Both were held in custody.

The 61-year-old man is facing eight counts each of forcible confinement and disguise with intent, seven counts of uttering threats and two counts of robbery. He was released on an undertaking.

Anyone who may be a victim or has information is asked to call police at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

Chancy said people who use dating websites or apps should ask a lot of questions about the person they are planning to meet.

“If that meeting does become a point where a certain location or pre-arranged address is determined, I would strongly and highly recommend that that first meeting or subsequent meetings be done in a public place to avoid any chance of victimization,” he said.

Chancy said people should give details to a family member or friend if they plan to meet in person with someone they met on a dating website.

Tom Keenan, a University of Calgary professor and author who studies online scams, said dating websites have decreased in popularity in recent years, but risks remain. Some platforms reported declines in paying users or subscribers.

“There are still millions of people using (dating websites). If you have millions of people using them, there are going to be some bad people using them, too.”

“There are still millions of people using them. If you have millions of people using them, there are going to be some bad people using them, too,” Keenan said.

He echoed Chancy’s advice and encouraged people to meet in public places.

Keenan suggested people ask questions before meeting, and search the other person’s name, if given, online to try to learn more about them. The same applies to addresses, he said.

For every incident that happens in the “real world,” such as those reported by Winnipeg police, several occur “totally online,” he said.

Romance scams, which are under-reported, have become one of the most common types of scams. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre said 337 victims reported combined losses of almost $24 million between Jan. 1 and June 30. Last year, 933 victims reported losses of $63 million.

“The reality is, it’s an industry,” Keenan said.

Typically, a fraudster uses fake profiles on social media or dating websites while showering a victim with flattery to convince them to start an online relationship.

The con artist may create a back story about why they’re unable to meet in person. While gaining the victim’s trust, they may ask for money for travel or other reasons, or invite the victim to invest in a business or cryptocurrency. Artificial intelligence has become part of scammers’ toolkits.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca