Back to SearchWaterloo Region, Ontario – Waterloo Regional Police are issuing a warning after receiving reports of online romance scams over the past month that have resulted in large financial losses.
In one instance, a male, from Waterloo Region, was reportedly scammed out of $500,000 (USD) over a three month period.
In another instance, a female, from Waterloo Region, reported losing $1 million (CAD) over the course of four years.
In both cases, the individuals believed they were in a relationship, but had never met the individual they were corresponding with online.
The Waterloo Regional Police Service wants to remind the public to be vigilant when pursuing online relationships. In 2017, Canadians reported losing $17 million in online romance scams. The following are safety tips to consider when engaging online with an unknown individual:
- Be wary of someone who professes their love to you who you haven’t met in person.
- Do an image search of the person to see if their photo is taken from a stock image.
- Be cautious of someone who avoids meeting face-to-face.
- Be wary if the scammer expresses distress or suggests an emergency that requires you to send them money very early on in your communications. Do NOT send money.
- Look for inconsistencies in their online profile and what they tell you.
If at any point you believe that you may be a victim of a romance scam, contact police with all of the pertaining information that is relevant to your situation. You can also file a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 or visit online at the Anti Fraud Centre.
Media Inquiries
André Johnson
Constable #1359
Public Information Officer, Executive Branch
Waterloo Regional Police Service
519-570-9777 (WRPS) ext. 8106
andre.johnson@wrps.on.ca
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