(MUNICIPALITY OF NORTH PERTH, ON) On Wednesday February 05, 2014, a Listowel resident contacted the Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to report she was the victim of a $6,000 scam.
The female reported meeting a friend online through a dating website. She communicated with this man who she believes was living in Nigeria. While communicating on and off for about a year, she started to develop feelings for him and sent him money. He sent her pictures of himself however she could not verify that these were actually pictures of the man she had sent the money. She had sent the money at his request, through a common money transfer company.
With Valentine’s Day only a week away the public is urged to be aware that “Romance and Dating†scams are becoming increasingly more common. Single or recently unattached people are among the growing number of vulnerable population to be victimized by these scams that occur through e-mail, social media and singles dating websites.
Fraudsters will express false romantic intentions towards a victim and will gain their attention and trust (sometimes with the promise of marriage). They often gain access to the victim’s money, bank account and credit cards.