Police are warning the public about a Facebook fraud scam.

RCMP recently received a complaint about a citizen who was a victim of a relationship/dating scam.

The individual met the scammer on a Facebook Dating App and began a friendship for approximately 6 months.  They communicated on Facebook and on an App called “Telegram.”  The man stated he was a doctor in the military on a mission overseas.

 After several months of communicating online, their friendship moved into a romantic online relationship.

In early June, the fraudster claimed he needed money for his son’s birthday present (a piano), who lived in the United States while he was overseas.  The St. Albert resident wire transferred $7500 USD to a bank account in the United States, thinking it was for the birthday present.  The citizen realized, after the fact, that it was a scam and the money was lost. 

 This is just one of many relationship scams circulating in Canada, and now RCMP would like to warn people about these scams and give tips on how to protect themselves from being victimized.

 

Here are a few tips on spotting a scam: 

  

- Calls from unfamiliar area codes or numbers.

- Emails from unknown senders or addresses.

- Online or over the phone requests for immediate payments, money transfers, e-transfers, or gifts cards (this includes individuals one meets through dating apps)

- When personal or financial information is requested via text or email.

- Pre-recorded phone messages or voicemails from banks or government agencies.

- Be extra cautious when dealing with cheques from unknown parties.

- If you’re unfamiliar with how cryptocurrencies work, you should avoid dealing with them.

  If you have been a victim of fraud or would like more information on all the different fraudulent scams in Canada, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre here or call your local detachment.