Police are warning everyone about romance scams.
Last year the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported over $64 million in losses due to romance scams.
Fraudsters gain the trust of a victim by carrying on a relationship and doing things like showing signs of affection, and sending gifts.
In many cases the fraudsters claim to be business professionals or members of the military that are travelling a lot.
Once trust is gained the fraudster will then ask for money for emergency situations.
Warning Signs
-Attempts to meet in person never happen, there’s always an excuse why they can’t meet, or didn’t show.
-Fraudsters want to develop a quick relationship with you. Be suspicious if someone you haven’t met professes their love to you.
-Be cautious of an individual that claims to live close to you, but is working overseas. This is a set up for the fraudster to provide you with many reasons to ask for money.
-If you are asked to accept payment from someone you’ve met online and send a part of the funds back to them or someone else – don’t do it!
-Lately, fraudsters may ask you to invest in a new business venture or cryptocurrency – this is a scam!
How to protect yourself
-Never, send money to someone you’ve never met.
-Protect your personal and financial information.
-Don’t share personal or financial information with anyone you’ve only met online or by phone.
-Never send intimate photos or videos of yourself. They can be used to blackmail you.
-If you meet someone online, verify who they are. Research their name and other details, and do a reverse image search of photos to see if they appear on the web or someone else’s online profile.
If you do fall victim to a fraud or know someone who has, contact your local police service to report the crime, and also report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). The CAFC collects information on fraud and identity theft Canada wide. Contact the CAFC by phone at 1-888-495-8501 or online by way of the Fraud Reporting System (FRS), even if a financial loss did not occur.
