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Victoria police warn lovelorn in costly online scam

Victorians hoping to find love on dating sites are the latest targets in an elaborate gold-digging scam, said Victoria Police. Const. Mike Russell said two reports of a similar scam have been reported in Victoria in the past week.
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Looking for love online? You may want to be careful, warn Victoria police, after several people were recently duped out of money in online dating scams.
Victorians hoping to find love on dating sites are the latest targets in an elaborate gold-digging scam, said Victoria Police.

Const. Mike Russell said two reports of a similar scam have been reported in Victoria in the past week. A local person meets a potential suitor on a dating website and begins building a relationship.

“The story continues with promises of riches, but for a price,” said Russell in a release. “The victims are asked to send information and money overseas to secure storage and shipping for a large quantity of gold.”

In one of the cases, a victim was duped out of $50,000 for supposed shipping and storage costs.

Police said the two cases are very similar and warn the public against these type of “get rich quick” scams.

Report these type of frauds immediately to the police or Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/english/home.html

localnews@timescolonist.com