Fergus, Ont. woman loses $70K to romance scam

Female hands hold heart, isolated on white background

A woman in Fergus, Ont. lost more than her heart on an online dating website.

She’s also out $70,000.

Ontario Provincial Police said she joined an unnamed international dating site in 2024 and fell for a fraudster posing as a romantic partner.

The woman eventually realized it was a ruse and reported the lost money to Wellington County OPP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre on Feb. 9.

Police also warned the public about sending money to strangers.

“Once a connection is established, the scammer often exploits the victim’s emotions to manipulate them into sending money, gifts or providing personal information,” they said.

OPP shared these romance red flags:

• Scammers often create fake profiles, using attractive photos and compelling personal stories to appear genuine.
• Once trust is established, scammers often invent fictitious emergencies or situations that require financial assistance. They ask the victim to send money, gifts, or even provide banking details.
• Scammers often find excuses to avoid meeting in person, citing various reasons such as living in another country or facing restrictions.
• Scammers will push for the relationship to progress unusually fast.

So, how do you protect yourself? Here’s what OPP recommends:

• Never send money, personal information or financial details to a stranger online.
• Trust your instincts. If something seems off, it likely is.
• Make sure you only use legitimate and reputable dating websites.
• It is a red flag if someone declares their undying love to anyone after only a few letters, emails, phone calls or pictures.
• Beware of anyone offering to “coach” you on Cryptocurrency or other investment schemes.