Unwary Victoria singles on dating websites targeted in pricey fraud

VICTORIA – Lonely singles in Victoria are learning the hard way that money can’t buy love.

Victoria Police have issued a warning of an elaborate scam targeting the lovelorn around the capital city.

Const. Michael Russell says the department has received two reports in the last week of frauds involving victims who used dating websites.

Russell says the victims are promised a share of profits or other riches if they will just send money overseas to handle shipping and storage of a large quantity of gold.

He says that in one case a victim transferred as much as $50,000 before the fraud was discovered.

Investigators say proposals of get rich quick schemes are almost always fraudulent and they urge anyone offered such an opportunity to report it to police or the Canadian anti-fraud centre.