A man wanted in a romance scam investigation is now in custody in Quebec after he was arrested north of Toronto this week.
At least one alleged victim is grateful to hear of the arrest.
“I feel relieved that some of these other victims and myself will get some justice.” Andréa Speranza, a Halifax woman, told CBC Toronto on Friday.
York Regional Police arrested Andre Marcel Vautour, 47, of no fixed address, on Wednesday after police in Quebec tipped them off that the man was believed to be living in Vaughan, Ont. Police said there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
According to Quebec police, he was been charged with fraud. His bail hearing is on Tuesday in Drummondville, Que. CBC Toronto has reached out to his lawyer but has yet to hear back.
Const. Maniva Armstrong, spokesperson for York Regional Police, said the service’s High Risk Offender Unit arrested Vautour at a Markham, Ont., hotel without incident.
“He was arrested and transported to Quebec so that the police service there could continue with the charges and the investigation,” she said.
Armstrong said police continue to receive numerous reports of romance scams. In these kinds of frauds, she said the scammer creates a persona, often with fake details.
“These fraudsters are very creative in their methods,” she said.
“Our victims, some who are new to the area, or new to our country, or some who are in vulnerable places in lives, fall prey to these fraudsters. And what happens is that they connect with the…
