Oak Bay man loses $150K in romance scam

Oak Bay police are issuing a warning after a resident lost more than $150,000 over the course of a lengthy romance scam.

The scam began in December 2022 when the Oak Bay man first came into contact with a “woman” on Facebook.

The pair formed “an ongoing relationship,” with the woman telling the victim that she was from the southern U.S.

The scammer then requested money to help pay for things like medical bills, airline tickets or other expenses.

“The woman told the Oak Bay resident she had a large financial payment coming due to her soon but needed funding in advance to secure it,” said Oak Bay police in a release Wednesday.

“The woman claimed once she secured the funds, she would move to Canada to be with him and live together.”

The scam continued until recently, when the fraudster asked the victim for his banking information.

“When they refused to share their banking information the woman stopped all communication,” police said.

The Oak Bay resident reported the fraud on Oct. 5. Over the course of the ordeal, the victim lost more than $150,000.

Police say an investigation into the matter is ongoing.

If you are the victim or target of fraud, you can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to file a report.

SEE ALSO:

• Vancouver Island woman loses $20K in online ‘romance’ scam
• Alleged dating app scammer arrested again in Colwood: RCMP
• Man facing charges after swindling nearly $200,000 using dating apps: Saanich Police

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