Frontenac OPP seek to identify individual in connection with romance scam
Following the arrest of a suspect in relation to a romance fraud, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are requesting public assistance to identify another person of interest connected to the scam.
According to the Frontenac County Detachment of the OPP, their officers began in an investigation into a romance fraud in March of 2020. The fraudulent activity had taken place between January and March of 2020, and the victim was defrauded of over $70,000 after “interacting with an unknown person online,” police said in a press release issued on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022.
Over two years after police began the investigation, members of the Frontenac OPP Crime Unit made an arrest in connection to the fraud on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022.
As a result, Lisa McLean, 44, of Toronto, has been charged with:
- Fraud under $5,000
- Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
Now, police are seeking assistance from the public to identify the person of interest.
Kingstonist reached out the OPP East Region for further information on the person of interest and whether they are believed to be in Frontenac County. Because the case is currently before the courts and the investigation remains ongoing, police were not able to share many details. However, Acting Sgt. Erin Cranton, Media Relations Coordinator for the OPP East Region, shared that the press release issued today – Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022 – was also issued in the Central Ontario Region.
With regard to the charges laid against McLean being for offences under $5,000 when the victim was allegedly defrauded of over $70,000, Cranton said, “the charges are based on involvement in the offence.”
“Police are still investigating,” Cranton relayed in an email to Kingstonist.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Frontenac OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or to file a report online at www.opp.ca/reporting. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where those sharing information may be eligible to receive a cash reward, the OPP said.