A woman has been charged in connection with an alleged romance scam that resulted in a 75-year-old man from Hamilton losing $20,000. Hamilton police said their investigation into the alleged fraud began in December 2025. Investigators determined that the victim met the suspect earlier that year in March and developed a relationship. During the months that followed, the suspect, police allege, convinced the victim to give her $20,000, which she claimed was to cover her parents’ funeral expenses. They further allege that the funds were obtained through deception. The suspect assured the victim that the money would be repaid, police said. In a news release on Monday, police revealed that they arrested the suspect, Vicky Medalla of Niagara Falls, last week. She has been charged with fraud over $5,000. Investigators noted that Medalla, at the time of her arrest, was already subject to two separate judicial releases for similar offences in Kitchener and Hamilton, prompting them to oppose her release on bail. Police are asking anyone with information, including possible additional victims, to contact them or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
