The Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is investigating a recent romance scam that has cost a Bluewater resident more than $60,000. The scam involved an online dating app, where an unknown person claimed to have financial problems and asked for help. Over a three-month period, the 58-year-old victim sent multiple payments through e-transfers and Bitcoin ATM deposits.
Between August 30th and December 29th, Huron OPP received eleven reports of significant fraud across the county. In nine of these cases, victims were led to believe their money was being invested in the stock market or cryptocurrency. Two victims fell for romance-style scams similar to this latest incident.
Across Canada, more than 23,000 fraud cases were reported in the first nine months of 2025, with losses exceeding $544 million, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. In 2024, total reported losses from fraud reached $647 million nationwide. Experts note that only 5 to 10 per cent of victims actually report scams to law enforcement or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Police are reminding residents to protect themselves online. They advise not sharing personal information such as your name, address, date of birth, SIN, or banking details. People should be cautious about friend requests from strangers, avoid sending money to anyone they haven’t met, and be careful when sharing images online. Home repair work should have multiple quotes, and residents should never feel pressured to make payments.
Anyone who has been targeted by a scam should contact their local police and report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at antifraudcentre.ca, even if no money was lost.
