Beware of online romance scammers

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/03/2019 (2573 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In today’s world of technology people are able to connect in ways we have never been able to in the past.

For most people, connecting with someone on the internet is harmless but for others, a chance encounter can leave a wake of destruction that will never be forgotten.

When you mix a vulnerable heart, the internet and a criminal mind it is a recipe for what police call a “romance scam.”

In 2018, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received 1,076 complaints of romance scams. With over $22.5 million in dollars lost, romance scams are responsible for the largest revenue lost when compared to other scams.  

How does this happen?

The victim usually meets the fraudster through social networking or dating sites.  Fraudsters have demonstrated perseverance and a willingness to develop relationships over long periods of time to build trust. They imbed themselves into the victims’ life to manipulate them and gain access to money, bank accounts, and credit cards.

The fraudsters will misrepresent themselves by sending appealing images of other people to bolster their identity profiles and to seduce their victims. Good, trusting people from all walks of life, just looking for companionship, let down their guards and get taken in with promises of love, riches and even marriage.

In some cases, the fraudster claims to be living overseas. Promises to meet the victim in person are made in order to keep the victim interested. When it is time to meet, they come up with a multitude of excuses for why they are unable to travel. Stories of family illness, business ventures gone wrong or problems with government processes are just a few. At some point, the fraudster always seeks financial assistance from the victim.

If the victim does not have funds readily available the fraudster offers to have a third party send a cheque for deposit or an electronic deposit to the victim’s personal bank account. This is usually followed by instructions to withdraw the money and utilize a fast money transfer company to wire the money.  

By the time the victim discovers a problem with the cheque or becomes suspicious, the money is usually long gone, leaving the victim heartbroken and in some cases penniless.

For more information on warning signs or how to protect yourself, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website at www.antifraudcentre.ca  

• Protect yourself from identity theft! A free shredding event will be held at St. Vital Centre and Polo Park on Thurs., March 28 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.  Find us at the Shred-It truck (maximum of two bags or boxes per person).