Consider it a cautionary tale about strangers you meet through social media.
A Thames Centre resident is out $110,000 after being convinced to invest in a fraudulent cryptocurrency website by a person they met online.
The incident, which took place over three months, was reported to Middlesex OPP on Wednesday.
Police were told the resident received a message from a person they did not know on a social media messaging app.
"A friendship was quickly established at which time an investment opportunity in cryptocurrency was introduced," police said.
While the resident was initially referred to a valid cryptocurrency website, they were soon redirected to a fraudulent site which resulted in the six-figure loss.
The investigation is ongoing.
Police are once again reminding the public to be vigilant when it comes to people seeking funds or pitching investment opportunities online or over the phone.
"It is imperative to verify any unsolicited requests before you respond or provide personal information. If you feel pressured, hang up the phone or delete the sender's profile," said police.
Earlier this week, police in Norfolk County investigated a so-called romance scam that saw a person scammed out of more than $200,000 between November 2021 and January 2023 by a person they met online. A separate fraud case in Oxford ended with OPP arresting a 22-year-old Montreal resident on Tuesday. In that incident, a local was advised by a person posing as an RCMP officer to pay $8,000 in order to get a loved one, allegedly arrested for drug offences, out of jail.
