A Toronto man lost nearly $200,000 of his life savings after forming an online relationship with a scammer posing as a U.S.-based military officer and directing him to invest in a fake cryptocurrency platform.
David Aning, a Toronto resident, began chatting with someone he met on a dating app in March. The person, introducing himself as “Pierre” and claiming to be stationed in California, quickly built trust—sharing dated photos and even participating in a video call. Over several months, Aning came to believe he was in a genuine romantic relationship.
The scammer encouraged Aning to invest his savings into a supposed cryptocurrency trading platform. Aning, who had been saving toward an Executive MBA, was promised significant returns and walked through the investment process step by step. The platform appeared legitimate, complete with dashboards, balances, and simulated profits.
But when Aning attempted to withdraw funds, access was denied and communication ceased. Nearly $200,000 was lost, and both the scammer and the platform disappeared. He reported the matter to the Toronto Police Financial Crimes unit and the FBI, but was advised that recovery was unlikely.
Aning has since come forward publicly to share his experience, hoping to warn others. He stressed that if someone you’ve never met in person asks for money—especially involving crypto—it’s likely a scam. The financial and emotional toll, he says, has been overwhelming.
