On Friday, Oct. 4, a frontline officer in Trail received a report of a woman who had fallen victim to an online romance scam.
Police explained that a romance scam occurs when a con artist manipulates someone into a virtual relationship with the intention of gaining their trust and affection.
This is typically done through email, social media, or dating apps, using fake profiles.
Once the relationship seems well-established, the scammer asks for money, often continuing the deception for months to make the scam appear legitimate.
In this case, the scammer built a relationship with the woman and then asked her to purchase gift cards from a local store.
The victim complied and sent the gift card details electronically, allowing the scammer to redeem the cards and causing her to lose a significant amount of money — money that is not recoverable.
“Fraud is a multibillion-dollar industry worldwide,” cautions Sgt. Mike Wicentowich. “The best way to protect yourself is to learn how these scams operate and how to avoid becoming a victim.”
He adds, “Everyone is a potential target.”
Romance scams are on the rise, employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to exploit people seeking genuine relationships.
The scammer may ask for money for various reasons, including:
• Travel expenses
• A medical emergency or family assistance
• Help in receiving money, which could unknowingly involve the victim in illegal activity
• Investment in a business venture or cryptocurrency
Warning signs to watch out for:
• The person professes love without having met you in person.
• They quickly push to move the conversation to a private platform (email, text, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, etc.).
• They consistently find excuses to avoid meeting in person.
• Their messages are poorly written, sometimes even using the wrong name.
• They claim to live nearby but are currently working overseas.
• They use distress or anger to guilt you into sending money.
• They discourage you from discussing the relationship with friends or family, attempting to isolate you from those who may be skeptical.
For more information visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
