US Citizens Conned By So-Called Romanian “Singles”

Eleven people in northwestern Romanian city Cluj are under investigation for having allegedly defrauded several US and Canadian citizens over the internet.

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The Americans and Canadians replied to matchmaking ads and sent transportation money so that their chosen ones could come to them.

The investigation is also joined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to a press release issued Monday by the Cluj city organized crime task force, police officers learned in May this year that a crime ring in Cluj–Napoca specializes in defrauding US and Canadian citizens over the internet.

Investigators learned that the group had 11 members who, starting with 2006, set up a fraud mechanism through matchmaking web pages in the USA and in Canada (www.americansingles.com , www.mate1.com and www.date.ca ).

The members of the group created accounts (profiles) on the mentioned web pages, using fake photos and chatting with potential victims. At one point during the “flaming romance” the victim was made aware that their love interest would be willing to travel, to meet them but is unable to do so because of financial shortages. The victim would then provide the money for the trips, sums ranging from EUR100 to EUR4,000.

Current estimates state that over 70 people were defrauded so far, in the USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, England and Belgium, with a total sum of $130,000.

Five days ago, police officers performed searches in the homes of seven suspects and arrested nine people.

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