Beware romance scams, cops tell Mississauga and Brampton residents

Police are warning Mississauga and Brampton residents that following their hearts when meeting someone online can in some cases crush both their romantic hopes and their bank account.

Fraud investigators with Peel Regional Police took to social media today (Sept. 6) to alert people to be on the lookout for online romance scams.

“Watch out for con artists who can create full-fledged identities to trick you into falling for someone who doesn’t exist,” a Twitter post from Peel cops reads.

Introducing the tweet, police said such scams are quite prevalent these days.

“The (Peel police) Fraud Bureau sees a lot of occurrences involving online romance scams. Be cautious who you send money, gift cards or other items of value to,” police warn. “These fraudsters know exactly what to say to make you believe they are your soulmate.”

Authorities across Canada and the United States spend a lot of time both warning people of such scams and investigating after frauds have taken place.

“Millions of people turn to online dating apps or social networking sites to meet someone. But instead of finding romance, many find a scammer trying to trick them into sending money,” a general online warning from authorities reads.

For years, Peel police have offered consistent advice when trying to help people steer clear of becoming victims of fraud, whether it be a romance scam, home improvement scam or any other fraud.

“If something (or someone) seems too good to be true, it usually is.”