TL;DR: CBC News reported on April 22, 2026 that Lynn MacLeod, 74, of Kentville, Nova Scotia, sent more than $130,000 by e-transfer over several months to a man who found her through a Facebook comment about the Confederation Bridge. He posed as an engineer and pitched an investment in a well-known oil company. RBC refunded about one-third of her loss.
What happened
CBC News reports that Lynn MacLeod, a 74-year-old widow from Kentville, Nova Scotia, commented on Facebook about the Confederation Bridge, which her late husband, a P.E.I. engineer, had helped build. A man replied saying he was also an engineer. He later sent a friend request and they talked several times a week.
How the money moved
- He said he worked for a well-known oil company and suggested she could improve her finances by investing in it.
- Over several months in 2025 she sent more than $130,000 by e-transfer to an email address she believed was legitimate.
- Her family told her at Christmas that she was being scammed. “I was shocked, really shocked, because I thought I was smarter than that,” she told CBC.
The bank's response
MacLeod says RBC only told her the money had gone to scammers after she reported the fraud to the bank and police. RBC refunded about one-third of her loss; she wants the full amount back and believes the bank should have noticed the large transfers. She says a previous bank had flagged an e-transfer to an unrecognised email address. RBC declined an interview and said customers should never send money to someone they have not met in person.
Today her account is empty, her church is paying her rent and family help with basic costs.
The national picture
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported $63 million lost to romance fraud in 2025. CAFC spokesperson Jeff Horncastle said social media has substantially increased the volume of these scams. Janette Hughes, a Canada Research Chair who works with seniors on online safety, said older adults are targeted most often, partly because they tend to have savings. See our guide to scams targeting seniors.
Red flags
- A stranger who joins a public comment thread and builds rapport through a shared memory or interest.
- Friendship that turns into an “investment opportunity” in a big-name company.
- E-transfers to an email address instead of a regulated investment account. Read whether Interac e-transfer is safe from scams.
- Family members who are worried. Listen to them.
Report to your bank, local police and the CAFC. Scammers find targets through what is public about you, so run our free digital footprint check.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Lynn MacLeod lose?
More than $130,000, sent by e-transfer over several months in 2025, according to CBC News.
How did the scammer find her?
He replied to her Facebook comment about the Confederation Bridge, claimed to be an engineer, then sent a friend request.
Did the bank refund her?
RBC refunded about one-third of her loss. She wants the full amount returned.
How much did Canadians lose to romance fraud in 2025?
$63 million, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Sources
- CBC News: N.S. widow warns others after losing $130K in relationship scam (Apr 22, 2026)
- Yahoo News Canada (CBC republished copy)
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)