What happened to the client
A client approached LastResorty after losing approximately $51,500 to an online romance scam. She had developed a close relationship with someone she met online, who gradually gained her trust over several months.
The individual eventually began requesting financial assistance, initially presenting the requests as temporary emergencies. Later, the client was persuaded to send cryptocurrency to help with what she was told were urgent financial and travel-related expenses.
When the individual became unreachable and the promised arrangements never materialised, the client realised she had been deceived.
Alongside the financial loss, the experience left her feeling distressed and unsure where to turn for support.
Our work on this file, step by step
A discreet, judgement-free assessment
LastResorty approached the case with discretion and without judgement. The initial assessment focused on understanding the sequence of events and gathering available evidence, including wallet addresses, transaction records, messages, and relevant account information.
Examining the transactions
The team examined the available cryptocurrency transaction data to determine what could be established about the transfers and whether any potential recovery avenues could be identified.
Preserving evidence and reporting
The client was also guided on preserving evidence and considering appropriate reports to relevant authorities and financial service providers. Any further action depended on the transaction history, available identifying information, and the cooperation of the relevant services.
After careful examination of all the details, we identified the person responsible: an individual operating from Nigeria who made a living scamming Canadians. We submitted a report to the Nigerian government and police, and several months later they arrested him and seized hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen funds. $30,000 of the recovered money belonged to our client and was returned to her.
- Lost
- $51,500
- Returned to client
- $30,000
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different.
What other victims can learn from it
Romance scams exploit emotional trust as well as financial vulnerability. A professional recovery service should recognise the personal impact of these cases, handle sensitive information carefully, and explain possible recovery options without making guarantees.
