That this is occurring really doesn't surprise me -- particularly with the large number of various dating sites that are all clearly using phony people: I'm always amazed, when visiting dating websites, by just how many black doms and transsexuals (for example) apparently reside in tiny villages (pop. approx. 500 - 1500) in my area.
B.C. dating website scammer pleads guilty
The Canadian Press
U.S. officials say they've put an end to the illegal online activities of a B.C. man whose promises of matching people with their future sweethearts turned out to be a scam.
Barrie Turner, of Delta, B.C., has pleaded guilty to mail fraud in a Seattle court in relation to 200 websites he ran offering executive dating services, U.S. prosecutors said Friday.
Turner, 65, collected more than $1.2 million US from clients, 100 of whom filed consumer complaints saying they'd paid as much as $997 for six-month memberships only to be matched with fictitious people.
Turner was arrested in March when he tried to enter the U.S. at the border crossing in Point Roberts, Wash., where he had a postal box that collected payments from customers.
He was charged with mail fraud for operating websites with names like Executive Catholic Dating, Executive Gay Dating and Executive Seattle Dating.
In some cases, the same picture of a supposed match was used with multiple clients while the personal information about the match was changed to suit the geographic location of the client.
Clients who wanted to meet their match got identical emails telling them the person had decided to date someone else.
Turner will be sentenced on Sept. 24 and faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison or a fine of up to $250,000.
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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-col...#ixzz0ryVOUd6G