Middle Sackville victim loses $300K in Facebook romance scam: N.S. RCMP

The Facebook app, center, appears on a mobile phone screen on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Halifax-area police are warning the public about recently reported scams, including one that cost a victim hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Police say the person in Middle Sackville lost approximately $300,000 after forming a personal relationship with someone on Facebook.

The scammer allegedly gained the victim’s trust and asked for money by claiming to have a sick family member with expensive medical bills.

Investment ad scam

Another victim in Lakeside lost about $25,000 after responding to an investment ad on Facebook.

Police say the ad featured a trusted public figure promoting an investment in gold.

The victim sent money to the company before realizing it was a scam.

The company reportedly became “persistent” and pressured the victim for more funds when they stopped communicating.

The first incident was reported to police on March 4 and the second was reported on March 5.

Bank fraud scam

The RCMP also responded to a report of a phone scam involving a resident of Head of Chezzetcook on March 10.

Police say the victim got a call from someone who said they were from a bank’s fraud department and that their online account had been compromised.

The caller allegedly convinced the victim to send two $5,000 transfers to a new account and promised it would be returned in a day.

The victim contacted her bank when the funds were not returned and learned it was a scam.

Another incident involved a Beechville resident who found more than $20,000 in fraudulent withdrawals on their credit card statement on March 12.

Investment program scam

The next day, officers responded to a report of fraud in Eastern Passage.

That victim lost about $8,000 after being contacted online about an investment program.

Police say the scammer got the victim to join a Zoom call after they gained their trust.

The victim shared their screen, opened their online banking and set up another account.

The scammer allegedly added a fraudulent payee and transferred money out of the victim’s account during the screen-sharing session.

Police say the scammer later reassured the victim that the money would be returned in a larger payout, but it wasn’t returned.

Scammer pretends to be victim’s son

The RCMP responded to a call from a Fall River resident on Saturday. They said they lost $7,000 to a scammer who pretended to be their son.

“The scammer called from an unknown number, claimed he needed to pay off a debt, and pressured the victim into sending three e-transfers to two email addresses. When the caller became threatening and could not answer a personal verification question, the victim contacted their son directly and confirmed it was a scam,” reads a news release from the force.

Police say they do not believe the recent scams are connected.

The investigations are ongoing.

Anyone who has been a victim of fraud, or who has information about fraudulent activity, is asked to call the RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment at 902-490-5020, their local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

More information about common frauds and how to protect yourself can be found on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s website.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page