Dating Site Fraud: Six Years for a $595,000 Scheme
He had a name, a job and a story built to fit her hopes. None of them were real. This Ontario case shows how a romance scam can be a long con that looks like a relationship.
By Siddharth ShankarUpdated October 11, 2026Global News reported that an Ontario Superior Court judge sentenced a man to six years in September 2020 for defrauding a woman he met on eHarmony in July 2013. He posed as a financier and persuaded her to hand over $595,000 to invest. He was ordered to repay $558,456, and his lawyer said he would appeal. Read what people can find about you before a first date.
Scammers start with details that have already leaked. Is your email one of them?
Free · About 30 seconds · No sign-up · Email not stored
Romance fraud rarely begins with a request for money. It begins with attention, shared interests and a story that explains why the other person cannot meet in person yet or does not need to. The Ontario case below followed a recognizable pattern: a real-sounding career, a new relationship and then an investment.
What happened
Global News reported that the man met the woman on the dating site eHarmony in July 2013. According to the report, this was shortly after he had left prison following earlier frauds. He presented himself as a successful financier under an alias, and she gave him $595,000 to invest.
In September 2020, Ontario Superior Court Justice Beth Allen sentenced him to six years, with credit for 462 days of pre-trial custody. He had been convicted in May 2019.
How it worked
The scheme combined romance and finance. A dating profile built trust, the claimed career explained why he understood investments, and the relationship gave the request credibility. Investment advice from a partner feels different from a stranger's pitch.
The report adds that he spent the money on a new BMW and on gambling debts, and that he was romancing another woman at the same time. In other words, the financier identity and the investment were fiction. The story was a cover for taking the funds.
What was exposed
There was no database breach in this story, and the report does not describe any data exposure. What was exposed was a person's trust and savings. The only identity element described is an alias, a false name used to hide a criminal history.
That is the lesson for people who think a fraud needs a hack. A name that cannot be checked is itself a risk.
How it ended
The court ordered him to repay $558,456 within five years of his release and imposed a fine of the same amount, reduced by any repayment. He is also barred from controlling other people's property or finances. His lawyer said he maintains his innocence and would appeal.
An order to repay is not the same as repayment. We could not confirm the outcome of the appeal or whether any restitution was collected, so we do not state either.
Your best defence is knowing what scammers may already have. Check your email free.
Free · About 30 seconds · No sign-up · Email not stored
Key facts at a glance
- Met: July 2013, on eHarmony
- Amount given to him: $595,000
- Convicted: May 2019
- Sentenced: September 30, 2020, to six years, with 462 days of pre-trial custody credited
- Repayment ordered: $558,456 within five years of release
- Appeal: his lawyer said he would appeal; outcome not confirmed
How to spot the pattern
1Check who they are before money enters the picture
Search the name with the claimed employer, ask for a video call and run a reverse image search on profile photos.
2Treat any request to move money as a red flag
Whether it is an investment, a loan or a fee, a partner you have not met in person should not be asking.
3Slow the decision down
A scammer wants speed. Talk to a trusted friend or a bank advisor before moving a large sum.
4Limit what a date can learn about you
Our guide to what people can find about you before a first date shows what to tidy up.
What the report does not say
The article does not say how the woman was found, whether other victims were involved or what became of the appeal. For a case that traced a romance scam through its money mules, see the Texas money mule case.
Why this case matters
The timeline is the striking part. The relationship began in 2013, the conviction came in 2019 and the sentence in 2020. Romance fraud can take years to unravel, and victims often feel shame that keeps them from reporting, which gives fraudsters more time.
The case also shows that a person's past can be checked. The man had been released from prison after earlier frauds shortly before he met the victim. A basic search of court records and news coverage under a real name is not always possible when someone uses an alias, which is why independent verification of identity matters before any financial step.
Your own exposure is the part you can still change. These guides cover what people can find about you before a first date, what strangers can find about you online and how scammers find your phone number and email. You can also try our free digital footprint check.
Sources
- Global News: Toronto romance con artist sentenced to 6 years (sentence, $595,000, repayment order, fine, 462 days credit, appeal)
Frequently asked questions
How much did the victim lose?
Global News reported that the woman gave the man $595,000 to invest. The court ordered him to repay $558,456 within five years of his release.
Was the man convicted?
Yes. He was convicted in May 2019 and sentenced on September 30, 2020 to six years, according to Global News. His lawyer said he would appeal.
Why do romance scams involve investments?
The relationship builds trust, and a claimed financial career makes an investment request seem natural. The money is then taken for the scammer's own use.
How can I check a person I meet online?
Reverse image search their photos, check the employer and name independently, ask for a live video call, and never send money to someone you have not met.
See if your email has already leaked
- Checks your email against known data breaches
- Shows which sites leaked it, when, and what leaked
- We do not store the email you check
Get alerted when your email leaks
Every NordVPN plan includes Dark Web Monitor, which alerts you if your email appears in new leaks.
See NordVPN →Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Prefer a one-time report first? Scan My Shadow, our sister service, $9.99.