July 9, 2021 – On Monday, St. Albert RCMP warned residents to ensure they practice caution online after an individual lost $7,500.

In a media release, police said someone met a man on the Facebook dating app and began a friendship for about six months. The man said they were a doctor in the military on a mission overseas.

In early June, the fraudster indicated to the St. Albert resident they needed money for a piano for his son, who lived in the U.S. while he was stationed overseas. The resident transferred US$7,500 to an American bank account before realizing they had been scammed, police said.

This is just one of the many online relationship scams in Canada, RCMP noted.

For information about scams circulating online, RCMP recommend visiting the Canadian Ant-Fraud Centre’s website.