Romance & Relationship Fraud
Whitby man arrested after alleged online romance scam cost victim over $340,000
Ituah Ogun, 33, of Elton Way in Whitby, was charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by Crime, and possession of counterfeit mark. He was released on a promise to appear before a court at a later date.
Romance scam primarily targeting Chinese community bilks victims out of $1.8M
York cops say victims lost between thousands of dollars to more than $1 million in romance scam.
The ‘suckers list’: How scammers repeatedly target victims
In the shadowy world of romance scams, one of the hottest commodities is the so-called “suckers list.”
Losses linked to online scam targeting York Region Chinese community tally $1.8M
Investigators with the York Regional Police Financial Crimes Unit are warning citizens about a new online romance and investment scam after a significant increase in incidents being reported. This new scam is primarily targeting the Chinese community.
Ottawa police says fraud suspect meets victims on online dating sites and by claiming to be a contractor
Ottawa police are asking for the public’s help locating a fraud suspect, who allegedly meets his potential victims through online dating sites. The Ottawa Police Organized Fraud Unit is looking for Rodney Crabtree, 49, of no fixed address in connection to several fraud investigations.
Online investment scam costs Toronto-area woman $80,000
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says the number one scam in 2020 was romance fraud with Canadians losing $18.5 million dollars to criminals and the number two top scam was investment fraud with losses of $16.5 million. Now, it appears criminals are starting to use the two scams together.
INTERPOL warns of romance fraud after surge in dating app users
The International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL, warned its 194 member countries, including Canada, about threats of fraud as online dating apps surge during COVID-19.
Quebec network of romance fraudsters dismantled
Montreal (September 18, 2020) – The Sûreté du Quebec announced this week that they dismantled a vast network of romance fraudsters. On September 15, the Quebec provincial police made a dozen arrests in the regions Quebec City, Montreal, and the Outaouais in connection...
Stoney Creek man arrested for online dating fraud
Toronto (June 4, 2020) – Toronto police arrested Raymond Coles of Stoney Creek for an online dating fraud on June 2. He is accused of defrauding a woman after they met on a dating website, where he allegedly portrayed himself as a police officer, in January 2018....
RCMP issued warrant for 4 men in alleged ‘multimillion-dollar’ romance scam
Regina (April 20, 2020) – The Saskatchewan RCMP made a breakthrough in a ‘multimillion-dollar’ romance scam investigation that started in 2018. Five men are suspected of defrauding seven women out of up to $2 million. The scams were conducted over a period of two...
Romance scammers: ‘Are you falling in love, or falling victim?’
Ottawa (February 14, 2020) – On Valentine’s day, the RCMP brought to the attention of Canadians the danger of romance scams resulting from online relationships. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), 682 Canadians reported in 972 complaints in 2019 for a...
Edmonton man arrested for alleged Orillia romance scam
Orillia (December 10, 2019) – Orillia OPP arrested Albert Gyamfi from Edmonton in connection with an Orillia romance scam incident. In April 2017, the Orillia victim reported to the police sending over $25,000 to an alleged romance fraudster. After a lengthy...
Convicted fraudster allegedly ran international online scam from Nigerian maximum security prison
Lagos, Nigeria (November 22, 2019) – Convicted online fraudster, Hope Olusegun Aroke, allegedly ran an international online scam from a Nigerian maximum security prison while serving his current jail term, according to Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes...
Toronto man wanted for romance scams
Toronto (November 21, 2019) –Ridwan Oyeyemi from Toronto is wanted by the police for allegedly perpetrating romance scams. He is the suspect in an ongoing fraud investigation. The police had been notified of two online dating scams where two Torontarians in their...
Charges laid against alleged online dating fraudster from North York
Edwardsburgh/Cardinal (October 31, 2019) – The OPP laid charges against Nosa Oriakhi from North York for allegedly pulling an online dating fraud on a Cardinal woman. Police believe that Oriakhi and the woman met on an online dating site. After he has claimed to be in...
Five arrested in Canada-wide romance scams
Toronto (October 22, 2019) – Five Ontario residents were arrested by the Toronto police in September 2019 after a 10-month investigation into a romance scam scheme. The men are alleged to have been connected to the bank accounts that have been used for online romance...
Crime Stoppers warns against romance scam impersonating Jeremy Renner
Vernon (October 15, 2019) – Crime Stoppers Central Okanagan issued a warning on October 10 against a romance scam in British Columbia impersonating Avengers Star Jeremy Renner. The online romance scammer approaches women on social media sites with fraudulent accounts...
Once successful lawyer sentenced to six-months due to bigamy and fraud
Hamilton (September 13, 2019) – James Morton, a once successful lawyer received a six-month conditional sentence and was ordered to perform community service due to being convicted of bigamy and fraud, in the Newmarket Ontario Court of Justice, on September 11. Judge...
‘I do not believe her.’, B.C. judge convicts woman for emptying fraudulent credit cards, she received from her alleged sugar daddy
Abbotsford (September 9, 2019) – Jennifer Yvonne Thompson has been convicted of seven criminal charges including fraud for emptying fraudulent credit cards, she claimed to have received from her sugar daddy. She defrauded the TD bank of $195,059 between November 2015...
FBI indicted 80 people with fraud charges in connection to numerous online scams worldwide
(August 30, 2019) – The FBI indicted 80 people, mostly Nigerian citizens, with fraud, money laundering, and identity theft charges. The defendants are under suspicion of having conducted numerous online scams including romance and business email compromise (BEC)...
Social media romance costs Perth County resident $20,000
Kitchener-Waterloo (August 21, 2019) – A Perth County resident has lost $20,000 to an online romance scammer during the last year. The victim reported the incident to the police on August 2 after realizing that the online love affair was a romance scam, according to...