TL;DR: Global News reported on September 25, 2026 that a Winnipeg woman met a man on Tinder who allegedly used her credit card to rent a car in Toronto, then asked for more money and went silent. She sent nearly $2,700 and was left with a $6,000 rental bill. The CAFC says Canadians reported $23 million in romance losses in the first six months of 2026.
What happened
Global News spoke to a Winnipeg woman, who asked not to be identified because she works with vulnerable youth. She met a man on Tinder; they talked every day for six weeks, and within a month he asked about exclusivity. He said he owned a cybersecurity company and was on a business trip in Edmonton. These are her account; police have not announced charges.
How it unfolded, in her words
- He flew her to Toronto to meet; she now believes he used a fake name.
- He said his gym locker in Edmonton was broken into and his wallet stolen, and sent photos of a broken locker.
- He asked to use her credit card, and they rented a vehicle in Toronto with it.
- Back in Winnipeg, he said his flight was delayed, asked her to extend the rental and asked for money. She sent some.
- When she said the vehicle had to be returned, he became aggressive and volatile. The rental company tracked the car by GPS and found it abandoned in a parking lot.
The costs
She reports sending nearly $2,700, being left with a $6,000 rental car bill, and having an attempted charge of nearly $15,000 on her credit card reversed. She declined an additional $3,000 request. The Winnipeg Police Service said its investigation is ongoing. The sums are modest next to the national picture, but the method, using your card and then your goodwill, is worth knowing.
The national numbers
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre told Global News that $23 million in romance and relationship scam losses were reported in the first six months of 2026, and $63 million in all of 2025. Read our breakdown of the CAFC first-half 2026 figures and average loss per victim by scam type.
CAFC advice
- Stop communicating with the person.
- Report to police, your financial institution and the CAFC.
- Be cautious on dating apps, social media and online gaming chatrooms, where scammers build trust for months before asking for money.
Never hand over your credit card or let a match use your account, even for a “small” booking. See our guide to Tinder scams and dating app romance scams, then run our free digital footprint check.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the Winnipeg woman lose?
She reports sending nearly $2,700 and being left with a $6,000 rental car bill. An attempted charge of nearly $15,000 was reversed.
How much did Canadians lose to romance scams?
$23 million in the first six months of 2026 and $63 million in all of 2025, per the CAFC.
How did the scammer use her credit card?
He asked to use it, and they rented a car in Toronto with it. The car was later found abandoned.
Where do I report it?
To police, your financial institution and the CAFC.
Sources
- Global News: Winnipeg woman speaking out after alleged romance scam (Sep 25, 2026)
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)