Police in Pembroke are investigating after a resident misplaced greater than $50,000 in a romance rip-off.
The sufferer entered into a web based relationship and despatched hundreds of {dollars} over a number of months to a scammer out of the country, Upper Ottawa Valley OPP mentioned in a information launch.
“Romance Scams trigger victims extreme monetary hardship and private embarrassment, which, regardless of large losses, usually inhibits their resolution to report the crime,” the information launch mentioned.
Such scams usually occur by means of singles web sites, social media platforms and electronic mail, police mentioned. They can price victims tens of hundreds of {dollars} earlier than they understand the ‘relationship’ is a rip-off. Seniors are among the many most weak.
Police gave the next ideas to assist individuals keep away from falling sufferer to romance scams:
- Don’t give out private data in an electronic mail or when chatting on-line, and examine the particular person’s identify and addresses used
- Ask your self: “Would somebody I’ve by no means met actually declare their love for me after just a few letters or emails?” If the reply is not any, report it to police.
- Never ship cash or give private banking and bank card data to anybody you don’t know, significantly somebody out of the country whom you might have by no means met
- Check web site addresses fastidiously
Anyone who’s been a sufferer of a rip-off ought to contact police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-496-8501.
