Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Case# #78 Canadian Man Arrested for Online Dating Fraud
WE NEVER NEVER NEVER agree with online dating... ever... under any
circumstances. Volunteer, join an interest group but STAY OFF THE
DATING SITES!by Zoe Fraley
A Canadian man suspected of running fraudulent dating Web sites was arrested as he tried to enter the U.S. at Point Roberts on Friday, March 26, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday.
Barrie Turner, 65, of Delta, B.C., is suspected of mail fraud in connection with the operation of more than 200 fraudulent dating Web sites linked to Executive Dating LLC.
A U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigation alleges that Turner was accepting payment from customers for the dating service - up to $1,000 for a six-month membership - but wasn't providing any legitimate matchmaking services.
More than 100 people have filed consumer complaints about the sites, which offer executive dating services, including such niches as Catholic dating, gay dating and Seattle dating. Customers complained that the people they were being matched with were fictitious after seeing repeat pictures of matches with different personal information, according to the DOJ. Clients interested in meeting their matches received identical e-mails telling them that the person they were interested in had decided to date someone else they had already met.
Fees for joining the dating service were sent to mailbox stores around the country and then forwarded to a mailbox in Point Roberts, where Turner was heading Friday. Investigators estimate that more than 1,000 customers sent Executive Dating more than $1.2 million since 2005.
Turner was charged in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Mail fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
original article here
Labels: Barrie Turner, Canadian, complaints, fraud, lies, online dating, online dating services
Agent's Notes for: #78 Canadian Man Arrested for Online Dating Fraud
