Fraudsters are going after your heart in order to get into your wallet. It’s called Romance Fraud, and it is the most lucrative scam in Canada, leaving victims heartbroken and broke.
Michelle Boyer, of Ottawa, turned to online dating in 2010, after ending a 22-year relationship. She started chatting with a man who said he was from Florida, and was working for an oil company in Nigeria. Boyer fell in love. The man said he wanted to come home and start a life with her.
“It was natural,” says Boyer, “I was ready to give up my apartment and everything and move to Florida.”
Boyer's online boyfriend started asking for money and over a 10-month period she sent him just over $3 thousand. What she didn't know is that she had been lured into an elaborate scam.
Ottawa Police Fraud Detective, Martin Cardinal, says Romance Fraud has some tell-tale signs. "One of the big indicators will be its intensity,” says Det. Cardinal, “This desire to use words like “Love”, “You were meant for me”, “God brought us together”, it’s a big red flag.”
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says that 1,047 victims of romance fraud were identified in this country in 2012, and they were scammed out of almost $15 million.
Boyer finally caught-on to the scam but police were unable to track down the conman in Nigeria.
Crime Prevention Ottawa will be holding an information session about Romance Fraud this week. You can also find more information about the crime at RomanceScams.org
