Police seek romance scammer wanted for 10 counts of fraud over $5,000

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Police are seeking a Canadian romance scammer for allegedly defrauding victims across Canada of $275,000. The 30-year-old man, identified as Chukwuka Emmanuel Williams, is wanted for 23 offences, including 10 counts of fraud over $5,000.

The alleged scam targeted 11 victims from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and Saskatchewan between June 2020 and September 2021. The suspect used tactics common in romance scams: sending random friend requests on social media; claiming to be a military member stationed overseas; developing a relationship with victims; and, requesting financial help for transitioning home from deployment.

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How badly have Canadian victims suffered?

Romance scams have become a significant problem in Canada. In 2023, 945 victims lost a total of over $50 million to such scams, with an average loss of nearly $53,000 per person.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) reports that romance scams were responsible for some of the highest financial fraud losses in 2023.

What are the warning signs of a romance scammer?

To protect yourself from romance scams, be aware of these warning signs:

• Quick professions of love before meeting in person. This “love bombing” is designed to overwhelm and manipulate you emotionally.
• Excessive interest in your personal life: While asking questions is normal, scammers often probe deeply into your personal information without revealing much about themselves.
• Inconsistent stories: Pay attention to discrepancies in their background or the information they share with you.
• Reluctance to meet in person: They may claim to be from your area but are rarely available to meet. When plans are made, they often cancel at the last minute with elaborate excuses.
• Vague or limited online presence: Their social media profiles may have few photos or interactions, and the images they do share might be partial or inconsistent.
• Claims of working overseas in professions like military or oil and gas
• Requests to move conversations to private messaging platforms
• Discouragement from sharing the relationship with friends and family
• Urgent requests for money, often for emergencies or travel expenses

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What can you do to protect yourself?

It’s crucial to be cautious when interacting with strangers online and to never send money or personal information to someone you haven’t met in person.

Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person. Scammers often use convincing stories to manipulate victims, but any request for money is a significant red flag.

Immediately cease all contact with the scammer. Continuing to communicate can lead to further manipulation and potential financial loss.

Inform your financial institution about the fraudulent transaction. They may be able to reverse the transaction or provide guidance on how to proceed. However, if you willingly sent the money, recovery is unlikely.

In Canada, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 and file a report with your local police if you’ve lost money. Meanwhile, collect any relevant documents, emails, or messages related to the scam. This can be useful for investigations.

Place a fraud alert on your credit reports with Equifax and TransUnion to prevent further identity theft.

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Finally, talk to someone you trust about the situation. It’s important to remember that falling for a scam is not a reflection of your judgment.

Can you recover funds given to a scammer?

Recovering money sent to a romance scammer is challenging, but here are some steps you can take. Companies like CNC Intelligence and PayBack offer services to help trace transactions and potentially recover funds. However, these services are not guaranteed to succeed, and you should be cautious of additional scams.

Be aware that some individuals or companies may claim they can recover your money but are actually scamming you further. Always verify the legitimacy of any recovery service.

An ounce of prevention will help?

To prevent romance scammers from accessing your personal information, limit personal information online. Avoid sharing sensitive details like your full name, date of birth, home address, or financial information on social media and dating platforms. Use a profile name that doesn’t reveal too much about you.

Set your social media accounts to private and only allow people you know personally to follow you. Regularly review your friends and followers list to ensure you’re not connected to suspicious individuals.

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Stick to reputable dating platforms and communicate through their messaging services to maintain privacy.Be cautious if someone asks to move conversations off the platform.

Conduct reverse image searches on profile pictures to check for inconsistencies. Ask detailed questions to verify the person’s identity and story.

And perhaps, most of all, trust your instincts, If something feels off or too good to be true, it is.

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