Toronto woman loses life savings, home in online dating scam: police
TORONTO — The plight of a Toronto widow who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and her home in a dating scam has prompted police to urge vigilance online.
Police say the woman, whose name has not been released, is a former municipal employee who first made contact with the suspect or suspects in the case on social media.
Investigators say the woman believed she had developed a long-term relationship, so when the scammers claimed to be in a crisis, she sent roughly $40,000 to help.
Det. Sgt. Ian Nichol of the Toronto police financial crimes unit says the woman eventually realized she’d been had.