With Valentine’s Day only days away, OPP is warning Northumberland residents about romance scams, which cost Canadians over $58.4 million in 2024.
Increasingly, fraudsters are using online platforms and artificial intelligence to manipulate victims, often leading to significant financial losses.
Scammers typically create fake profiles on dating apps, social media, or email and build emotional connections before making requests for money. These can include urgent medical emergencies, travel expenses, or investment opportunities-especially involving cryptocurrency. Many scams escalate into money laundering schemes, unknowingly implicating victims in criminal activity.
OPP urges the public to watch for red flags, including rushed declarations of love, reluctance to meet in person, and pressure to keep the relationship secret. Scammers may also use poor grammar or mistakenly address victims by the wrong name.
Residents are encouraged to stay cautious and report suspicious activity to local police, the OPP, Crime Stoppers, or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
If you or someone you know is a victim of fraud, report it immediately by calling OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501.
More information on fraud prevention is available at ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
