A Brampton woman says she is devastated after she misplaced greater than $200,000 — her life’s financial savings — to a romance rip-off.
Ontario Chronicle Toronto agreed to establish the girl as Anne, a pseudonym to guard her id.
Two years in the past, Anne stated she obtained a pal request from a person making an attempt to strike up a friendship.
“He simply stated he was in search of a pal and he appeared like a really good particular person and he was at all times telling me I sound real and he would love to be my pal. He additionally stated he want to come to Canada to go to me,” stated Anne.
Over the course of a 12 months, the person confided in Anne, informed her his spouse died from most cancers and that he had two sons who wanted cash for surgical procedures.
The person informed Anne he would solely have to borrow cash from her, as he was working in Texas and was anticipating a big cheque.
“He was going to get $5.6 million and it was a six month contract, so if I’d assist him out he would have the ability to pay me again,” stated Anne.
At first, Anne refused to ship the cash, however he would ship her roses and ultimately he talked her into it.
“He begged me and pleaded and he stated, ‘You appear to be such a pleasant particular person if (you) would ship the cash,’ and so I did,” Anne stated.
Over time, after Anne realized she had given her cash to a person she had by no means met in-person, she stated she grew involved.
“Over an area of 1 12 months, he borrowed all my financial savings – over $200,000,” Anne stated.
Ultimately, Anne was scammed out of $230,000.
Romance scams are one of many three most typical frauds in Canada, in keeping with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, with Canadians shedding greater than $52 million to criminals final 12 months. Within the first half of 2024, Canadians misplaced practically $23 million to those scammers.
With romance scams, cybersecurity specialists say fraudsters seek for lonely folks on-line, the place they may then begin friendships, declare they want cash, promise to pay the cash again, and supply excuses on why they can not meet in particular person. As soon as cash has been despatched, it is practically unattainable to get again.
Anne says she is devastated, embarrassed and humiliated that she gave her life financial savings to a whole stranger.
“I am very damage and, you understand, I may have been doing a lot with my cash, however now it is gone,” stated Anne.
