Ontario man 'devastated' after losing his home and nearly $500K to crypto scam
An Ontario man says he is 'devastated' after spending his entire life savings in an investment scam he got involved in from a YouTube video he watched.
“I’m devastated. It ruined me, and it’s my life savings gone," said Stephen Carr of Meaford, Ont.
Online investment scams continue to be a massive problem in Canada, and Carr is one of many victims.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, 2021 saw $379 million in fraudulent losses in Canada, with the number one cause for loss being cryptocurrency fraud.
Carr said he was on YouTube when he saw a video that promised he could make large amounts of money trading commodities, foreign currencies and cryptocurrencies.
He said he contacted the company and started off with an initial amount of $250 to invest. When that appeared to be growing, he put in another $2,500.
At one point, Carr asked for a $1,000 withdrawal, which he received and gave him confidence the website was legitimate.
After that, from a period in October 2022 to January 2023, Carr invested his life savings of $498,000.
“What I didn't know at the time is this trading platform I was on was a simulation, it wasn't connected to anything, like a flight simulator that’s not connected to a real airplane,” he said.
Carr became concerned when he thought his funds had grown to 1.3 million and wanted to take some out. But, he was told he would have to pay a $150,000 liquidation provision to get his money.
“I got conned, and in hindsight, I put a ridiculous amount of money in this and a ridiculous amount of trust in these people," said Carr.
“I’m devastated. I’m in the process of selling my house and have to reorganize my life. I’ve got maybe two or three months of useable cash left, and that's it."
Jason Tschetter of Alberta lost $81,000 in a crypto scam last year. Tschetter started Fraud Hunters Canada, a group that tries to support victims and help them recover their money.
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/canadian-man-out-81-000-after-unknowingly-using-trading-platform-that-was-front-for-thieves-1.5820764?cache=bnbdbzprrissrh%3FautoPlay%3Dtrue
With international boundaries and limited police resources, it's almost impossible to do.
“These criminals have turned this into an actual business, and for them, business is booming," said Tschetter. “Unfortunately, the police are strapped for manpower, and they don’t have the time to research all the fraud that comes through."
Fraud Hunters Canada can help someone who has been caught in an investment scam by giving them resources and guidance.
“Unfortunately, a lot of people are going to go through the anger, the depression, the denial. They will even try to bargain with the criminal, but it just won’t work,” said Tschetter.
Carr said when he tried to recover his funds, he ran into more scams.
“I’ve spoken to several recovery firms, but a lot of them are in the same boat and are fraudulent themselves," said Carr.
Carr said he reached out to CTV News Toronto to share his story to prevent others from being scammed.
“If I can get conned, then a lot of other people can get conned, and they have my entire retirement savings,” said Carr.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
BREAKING Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
Six Canadian children repatriated from detention in Syria, Global Affairs Canada says
The Global Affairs Department says six Canadian children have been repatriated from detention in northeastern Syria.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
TikTok, ByteDance sue to block U.S. law seeking sale or ban of app
TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance said on Tuesday they filed suit in U.S. federal court seeking to block a law signed by President Joe Biden that would force the divestiture of the short video app used by 170 million Americans or ban its use.