Man charged after B.C. woman loses $110K to romance scam

A man has been criminally charged after allegedly scamming a B.C. woman he met online out of $110,000, according to authorities.

The victim, a 53-year-old woman from the Sunshine Coast, first reported the alleged fraud to police in 2023, a news release from local Mounties said.

“Over the course of several months, Michael Paul Snow gained this woman’s trust and convinced her to participate in a business venture that was later learned to be non-existent,” a spokesperson for the Sunshine Coast RCMP wrote.

“This type of offence is commonly referred to as a romance scam.”

Snow was arrested in Maple Creek, Sask., on June 24 after a Canada-wide warrant was issued for his arrest, police added.

The Sunshine Coast RCMP said the investigation has identified “several” additional victims, but did not say if Snow is facing additional charges in their jurisdiction or elsewhere.

Anyone who has had “fraudulent business dealings” with Snow is urged to contact their local police department to file a report.

Snow is scheduled to appear in provincial court on the Sunshine Coast on Aug. 13.