Romance Scams in Canada: How to Recognize One

Our verdict

Romance scams cost Canadians $58.3 million in 2024. That figure from the CAFC represents only reported losses — the RCMP estimates 5–10% of fraud victims report, meaning actual losses could exceed $500 million annually. The median reported loss per Canadian romance scam victim is $10,000, the highest of any fraud category in the CAFC dataset. Some victims lose their entire retirement savings. The demographic most affected is 55–74 year-old Canadians, with women slightly more represented in reports, though men lose significantly more on average.

The geography of romance scams has shifted. In 2024, the majority of initial contacts that became Canadian romance scam reports originated on Facebook and Instagram, not dating apps. LinkedIn is increasingly used for the investment-angle variant ('pig butchering') where the scammer poses as a successful professional, builds a romantic connection, and then transitions to investment advice. Scammers operating these networks — often based in Southeast Asian fraud compounds in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos according to INTERPOL documentation — operate 24/7 shifts managing hundreds of 'relationships' simultaneously using scripts.

The pig butchering variant is now embedded in the majority of reported Canadian romance scam cases. After weeks or months of relationship building, the 'partner' introduces a cryptocurrency investment opportunity — often a platform they claim to have inside knowledge of. The victim is shown fake profits accumulating in their 'account.' When they try to withdraw, fees are required. The fees keep coming. The platform is fake; the money has gone to the fraudsters from the first deposit.

Key patterns associated with romance scam contacts: the person claims to work overseas in a high-status but location-agnostic job (oil rig engineer, military officer, surgeon with Médecins Sans Frontières, international businessman). Video calls are refused or are brief and low-quality. Within weeks of first contact, emotional intensity escalates rapidly ('soulmate' language). Any request for money — even a small amount for an 'emergency' — is a signal. No legitimate romantic relationship begins with a financial request within the first months of contact.

The CAFC's reporting line for romance scams: 1-888-495-8501. Online reporting: reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca. Victims of romance scams also face a second wave of fraud: 'recovery scams' where a new contact claims to be able to recover lost money for an upfront fee. The CAFC explicitly warns that recovery services promising to retrieve romance scam losses are themselves fraudulent in nearly every case. Legitimate recovery avenues include contacting your financial institution, filing a PIPEDA complaint with the OPC if personal data was misused, and reporting to local police for a case number.

Editorial note: This article reflects the state of publicly available information at the time of writing. Business practices, ownership, and safety records change over time. TrustChekr is not affiliated with any company reviewed here and does not receive payment for editorial coverage. Verdicts are based on documented evidence and are subject to revision.