Wellington OPP warn of romance scam after Guelph-Eramosa resident loses $50K

Wellington County Ontario Provincial Police is warning the public to be cautious of online romance scams after a Guelph-Eramosa resident was defrauded of more than $50,000.

Police said they received the report around 11 a.m. on Thursday. Investigators were told the victim had developed an online relationship with someone from another country who eventually asked for a large sum of money.

“This ultimately led to the victim being defrauded of over $50,000,” police said in a media release. “A family member of the victim quickly recognized the situation as fraudulent and intervened. They then contacted police to report the incident.”

Romance scams often involve fraudsters creating fake online profiles using stolen photos and fabricated backstories. Once trust is built, scammers may invent emergencies or personal crises to convince victims to send money or share banking details, according to police.

Police said common warning signs include requests for financial help, reluctance to meet in person and elaborate excuses about why the individual cannot travel.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre encourages anyone who has been targeted to report it, even if no money was lost. Reports can be filed by phone at 1-888-495-8501 or online at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.

More information about fraud prevention, including The Little Black Book of Scams, is available through the Competition Bureau of Canada.