Scammers used fake profile on dating app to get $250K from victims: Toronto police
Scammers created a fake profile on a dating app and established online relationships in order to get a total of $250,000 from victims, according to Toronto police.
Two people, a 36-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, both from Mississauga, have now been arrested.
Police alleged they were involved in conducting a romance scam, targeting victims in Canada and the United States.
The scammers used the name Hronek Radko on a dating app profile, along with a profile picture of an unknown person’s face and a fake ID to deceive victims. “The accused purported to be a successful businessman residing in the GTA and operating a business called Ocean Global Auto Ltd. or Ocean Auto,” police said.
????This Valentine’s Day, swipe right on love…not on a scammer.????
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) February 13, 2026
After reports of a romance scam, we launched Project Mismatch, where these scammers are alleged to have used dating apps to con their victims out of $250,000.
Think you’ve been mismatched? We want to hear from you.… pic.twitter.com/ZzpabXagJS
After entering into an online relationship and gaining trust, the scammer “persuaded victims to loan large sums of money to assist with the alleged business.” The victims were told to send bank drafts to the accused’s business account.
Communication would stop after a victim sent money while the scammers used the funds for personal gain, police said.
Investigators seized evidence of the alleged scam on Jan. 21, after a search warrant on a vehicle and residence in Mississauga.
Police shared the details of the alleged scam on Friday, one day before Valentine’s Day. After reports of the scam, police said, also on Friday, that they were launching Project Mismatch to find out more details about the victims, which included residents living in Ontario, in B.C., and as far away as Texas. Police urged anyone who believes they have been scammed to come forward.
“Romance scammers exploit trust, emotion, and the desire for connection. They often present themselves as successful, credible professionals and invest significant time building relationships online before requesting money,” police said.
Authorities said that signs of a romance scam include a new online relationship that escalates quickly and discourages in-person meetings, claims of wealth or business success paired with sudden financial problems, requests for money tied to shipping fees, investments, customs issues, or emergency expenses, and instructions to send funds by bank draft, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or to a business account.
Signs also include pressure, urgency, or emotional manipulation such as guilt, secrecy, or fear of losing the relationship.
Police described these scams as “highly organized, deliberate frauds that rely on social engineering and play on emotion.” Those in new online relationships should never send money to someone they have not met and verified in person, police said.
The man has been charged with fraud exceeding $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime exceeding $5,000. The woman has been charged with possession of property exceeding $5,000.
They are scheduled to appear in court on March 9.
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