The Brant detachment of the OPP is urging the public to be cautious and vigilant following a reported case of a romance scam that resulted in a significant loss of money for the victim.
According to officials, the victim reported meeting an individual online in April through a popular dating application.
After weeks of conversation, the individual gained the trust of the victim and convinced them to send money to invest in cryptocurrency. The victim made several transfers into the cryptocurrency account.
Police allege the scammer used multiple tactics to maintain trust, including changing phone numbers, deactivating and reactivating social media profiles under different names, and requesting the victim to set up new accounts and emails.
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When the victim attempted to withdraw their money, they were repeatedly asked to pay various fees with strict deadlines, which ultimately led to more financial loss totaling $34,500.
After realizing the scammer had used stolen photos from an influencer’s social media account, the victim contacted the Brant OPP to report the fraud.
The OPP is reminding everyone to be cautious when engaging in online relationships, especially when asked to make financial investments or share personal information
Report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.
If you suspect that you or someone you know has been a victim of a romance scam, please contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.