Online daters in Montreal see the same core romance-scam patterns reported everywhere — rapid emotional intensity, a quick push to WhatsApp or Telegram, a reason the other person can never video call or meet, and an eventual money request — but a few things are worth knowing specifically if you're dating in Quebec.

What it typically looks like locally

Scammers targeting people in Montreal often build profiles that claim to be temporarily working, stationed, or traveling internationally with plans to relocate to be closer to you, which conveniently explains why an in-person meeting never quite happens. Photos used in these profiles are frequently stolen from real people elsewhere, so a reverse image search is worth doing early if anything feels off.

The Sûreté du Québec and Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) also take local fraud reports, which can run alongside a CAFC report rather than replacing it.

Where to report a romance scam

The primary reporting body is the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). Reporting matters even if you didn't lose money — it helps build the pattern data used to warn others and, in some cases, to trace repeat offenders operating across many victims.

What to do right now if you're mid-conversation with a suspected scammer

Stop sending money or gift card codes immediately, don't share further personal or financial information, save your message history and any photos or payment records, and consider asking for a live, unscripted video call — a request scammers consistently avoid or delay indefinitely.