Story Archive

Suspicions Raised

“My advice is, if you have any suspicion, start asking questions,” said a crime victim from Edmonton, Alta., Canada. “If I can help anybody to not get caught like I did, then it’s damn well worth it.” Yes, he was defrauded online by “Deborah” — who had professed her love for the man she had never met — and very quickly started asking for money. The man sent a little, and then a little more, and indeed was suspicious, but he kept sending money. It was revealed to be a scam after three years, when concerned officials at his bank called police. By then, he had sent the woman, who is somewhere “overseas,” C$143,000 (US$106,500), and he will probably lose his house to bankruptcy. “It’s absolutely heartbreaking that these scammers are taking someone’s desire for happiness and using it against them,” said the case detective, Linda Herczeg, at a press conference with the man. To protect his privacy, his surname was not revealed, but his given name was: Con. (RC/CBC) ...Which he had legally changed to from Mark.