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Durham Regional Police are warning Clarington residents about ongoing online dating scams.
According to DRPS Fraud investigators, they have noted an increase in the number of victims involved in online dating scams. Victims have suffered financial loss, either by sending money or by disclosing their personal information.
Police say that between the dates of February 13 – 26, 2010, several female victims reported to police their contact with male acquaintances through an online dating service, which led to financial losses. The suspects stated they were involved in various work-related charity efforts, out of the country, and requested funds be sent to them in Nigeria. The victims also agreed to release personal identification including their financial details to the suspects and were soon afterwards debited substantial amounts of money from their personal accounts.
Investigators note that many victims have been defrauded after several months of communicating with suspects. In many cases victims had been ‘worked’ for months until the suspect feels the victims are ready to be duped. Scams like this are not new, having been around for several years now.
The Durham Regional Police would like to remind the public that criminals target all web sites and dating sites are no exception. The public is warned to be careful when using the internet and never send money or disclose their personal information.
Anyone with new information regarding this incident or other investigations is asked to contact a member of the Major Crime Fraud Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5232. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers Program at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) and tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 03 March 2010 13:23 )
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