Man charged in 6-month online dating scam after victim duped of $60,000
Posted April 18, 2023 5:54 pm.
Last Updated April 18, 2023 5:57 pm.
A Mississauga man is facing charges in an alleged online romance scam that lasted several months and cost a victim about $60,000.
Peel Regional Police said its officers concluded a lengthy, six-month investigation on Monday into an online dating hoax.
It’s alleged that the male suspect met the victim through an online dating website and communicated with them frequently via text and phone.
Peel police said the suspect told the victim that he was a contractor working in South Africa and was in urgent need of money that he would repay.
It’s alleged the victim was deceived into sending wire transfers to a Canadian bank account and several Bitcoin transfers of over $35,000 to an account in South Africa.
On Tuesday, police arrested 38-year-old Lincoln Marquis of Mississauga. He’s facing multiple charges, including fraud of over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime.
The accused was released on an undertaking and will appear in court on June 6, 2023.
