Halton Police Arrest Male Following Alleged Romance Scam

Published October 2, 2018 at 11:47 am

On Sept. 27 Halton Regional Police Service Fraud Bureau Detectives arrested a Hamilton male after looking into an alleged Romance Scam.   

On Sept. 27 Halton Regional Police Service Fraud Bureau Detectives arrested a Hamilton male after looking into an alleged Romance Scam.   

Following a sixteen month on-line courtship, the victim was allegedly defrauded of a sufficient sum of money due to the fraudulent actions of this male, police say.

According to police, Paulo Egbobawaye, who is 35-years-old, of Hamilton has been charged with the following Criminal Code Offences, fraud over $5,000, Identity Fraud, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Laundering Proceeds of Crime, and Breach of Probation

Police say Egbobawaye will appear in Milton Court on Oct. 30.

Police are urging people to be careful when dealing with online and usually fictitious individuals on legitimate dating sites whose ability to travel or meet in person is limited.  

According to police, in many situations the individual will say they’re from North America but currently living or working abroad and therefore cannot meet in person.

Once the relationship gets stronger the individual will claim some form of hardship that requires the transfer of funds to them, often by wire transfer, police say.

Police are reminding people to never send money or e-transfers to someone you have never met,mcheck your facts and do your research about someone; do not accept cheques for cashing on someone else’s behalf, and when in doubt, seek some help or advice. 

For additional information on this and many other prevalent scams refer to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Website WWW.ANTIFRAUDCENTRE.CA  

Police are asking anyone with information regarding this investigation or who may be the victim of another Romance Scam to contact Detective Constable Sarah Rudall of Regional Fraud Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 8742.

Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.

insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising