Romance Scams in Canada
How romance fraud targets Canadians — from dating app contact through crypto ATM and wire transfer demands — with reporting routes through the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and provincial support.
Part of: Fake Online Partners
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Romance scams are consistently reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) as one of the highest-loss fraud categories in Canada. Canadians are targeted through the same channels as people in other English-speaking countries, but the Canadian context offers specific red flags — including crypto ATM use and CRA impersonation — and specific reporting and support routes that differ from US or Australian infrastructure.
This guide covers how romance fraud is experienced specifically by Canadian victims, the payment methods most often demanded, and the Canadian-specific reporting routes through the CAFC and RCMP.
How this scam works on Canada
In Canada, romance scam contact most commonly begins on dating apps (Hinge, Bumble, Match, POF — which is popular in Canada), Facebook, and LinkedIn. The scammer typically presents as a Canadian citizen — often in a profession that explains remote living or international travel, such as the military, the oil sector, or international business — but is never available for a live, spontaneous video call.
A Canada-specific pattern involves the crypto ATM: after establishing emotional rapport, the scammer may redirect payment through a crypto ATM under a variety of pretexts — a gift, an investment, a way to avoid bank delays. Canada has a higher-than-average density of crypto ATMs per capita, making this more accessible than in many other countries. The CAFC specifically warns about this vector.
Romance fraud in Canada sometimes layers into pig-butchering investment fraud, where the romantic relationship is the grooming mechanism for introducing a trading platform. Provincial consumer protection agencies — including the Ontario Consumer Protection Branch, BC's Consumer Protection BC, and the AMF in Quebec — may also be relevant if financial products were involved.
Crypto transfers, wire transfers, and gift cards are all used. The CAFC notes that romance scam losses often go unreported due to embarrassment, so the actual scope is likely higher than official data suggests.
Common red flags
- A dating app or social media contact claiming to be Canadian but always unavailable for a spontaneous live video call
- A contact who builds intense personal rapport rapidly before introducing a financial request
- Any request for payment via crypto ATM — particularly framed as a gift or a way to 'avoid bank delays'
- A romantic partner who introduces a trading platform or investment opportunity after establishing emotional closeness
- Requests for gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency framed as help with an emergency
- A contact who cannot be reached for an unscheduled call during Canadian business hours despite claiming to be local
How to protect yourself
- Insist on a live, spontaneous video call before developing any financial trust with an online contact
- Reverse-image-search all profile photos before emotional or financial engagement
- The CAFC states that no Canadian institution — including banks, the CRA, or the RCMP — requests payment via crypto ATM
- Never send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to someone you have not met in person
- Report to the CAFC before making any payment to an online contact — early reports have occasionally allowed intervention
How to report it
- Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre.ca or by calling 1-888-495-8501
- File a local police report — RCMP or municipal police — if financial loss occurred
- If crypto was involved, report to your provincial securities commission and include wallet addresses
- Contact your bank immediately if a wire or bank transfer was made
- Victim Support: Victim Services organizations in each province provide support to fraud victims — find your province's service at justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/victims-victimes
Frequently asked questions
Is there a romance scam support service in Canada?
The CAFC provides information and can take your report, but does not offer direct victim support. Provincial Victim Services organizations provide emotional support and practical guidance for fraud victims. RCMP and local police victim services can also connect you with support. The Fraud Prevention Forum publishes resources for romance scam victims at antifraudcentre.ca.
Can I recover money sent in a romance scam in Canada?
Recovery depends on payment method and timing. Wire transfers reported to your bank the same day have a narrow chance of recall. Gift cards, once redeemed, are effectively unrecoverable. Crypto transactions are irreversible. File a CAFC report regardless of payment method — it contributes to national intelligence and may support coordinated enforcement action against larger operations.