Classified dating scam: Elderly Toowoomba man loses $40 after answering ad
A man from Toowoomba has been allegedly scammed out of more than $40,000 after he contacted what he believed was an paid dating service. Three people have now been arrested. WATCH THE VIDEO
Police & Courts
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Three people have been charged over an alleged online romance scam that left a Toowoomba man more than $40,000 out of pocket.
The man, in his 70s, responded to a personal advertisement and then engaged in what he believed was a paid dating service.
He was then put into contact with a woman who claimed to be a widow in her 50s, who also claimed to need large payments to get out of a work contract.
The Toowoomba man then contacted a friend who believed he may have fallen victim to a scam.
The matter was referred to police in February.
Another elderly man from the Cassowary Coast allegedly lost more than $340,000 to the same scam.
Detectives raided multiple Gold Coast homes in July and took two women into custody after discovering nearly $80,000 in cash and evidence of a third victim from Western Australia.
It is alleged this man lost $111,000 to the scam.
A 52-year-old Benowa woman has been charged with five counts of fraud and one count each of receiving tainted property, possessing tainting property and contravening an order about access to information stored electronically.
A 29-year-old Benowa woman, has been charged with five counts of fraud.
Both are expected to front Southport Magistrates Court on October 3
A 52-year-old Mermaid Beach man was taken into custody after he presented to Broadbeach Police Station.
He has been charged with four counts of fraud and is next expected to front Southport Magistrates Court again on September 18.
Investigations into the alleged fraudulent dating service remain ongoing, and detectives urge anyone with information to come forward.
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