Investigators became aware of the incident yesterday afternoon through the victim’s daughter.
They have since learned the victim, a senior, met the scammer online in 2018 through a popular social media messenger service.
The scammer, claimed to be a surgeon working for the United Nations and at one point used a ruse that he had been abducted by a terrorist entity and needed money to pay off his ransom.
The scammer was also sent money to help with surgeries, medical treatment, international flights and other emergencies.
As is the case with. many victims of this type of fraud, the victim will often develop a strong emotional attachment to the scammer and emotional triggers will often prevail over sound judgement.
The online bond these scammers form with their victims is very real. In many cases victims are in complete denial and will continue to send money until there is nothing left to give even though they have been warned by family, banking officials and even police.
Falling in love is a beautiful thing. Falling victim is not.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported last year 899 complaints were received relating to romance scams which included 620 victims who lost over $18.5 million dollars to scammers pretending to be in love.
Romance scams involves an individual with false romantic intentions toward the victim in order to gain trust and affection for the purpose of obtaining money or access to their bank accounts and credit cards.
They use such things to gain trust as:
- Background stories that mimic the victims including successful business person, work in military, work for charity and work overseas
- Gains trust through displays of affection through phone, skype, emails for months to build trust
- Request money to help visit victim, pay for visa, airfare but then suddenly run into unexpected difficulties
- Closer the date appears to get the more unexpected events occur and more money that is requested
- Scammer may use medical emergencies with sick family members and ask for money to cover them
- Scammer may also tell of large amount of money, gold or other treasure they need to transfer out of their country and offer to share it with the victim
Police offer these tips to protect yourself:
- Be suspicious with someone you have never met who professes love
- If in-person meetings are always followed with excuses they can’t be wary
- Do not share personal or financial information you have met online or in-person
- Be cautious to those that say they live close but are “working” overseas
- Never sent money under any circumstances or reason
- Never send intimate photos or video of yourself that may be used for blackmail
Police say remember if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.