Quebec Man Loses $284,000 to Romance Scam, Now Faces Tax Bill from Revenue Quebec
A Trois-Rivieres man who was swindled out of nearly $284,000 by an organized crime figure operating a romance fraud is now being pursued by Revenue Quebec for taxes on the retirement savings he was forced to withdraw.
Quebec Man Loses $284,000 to Romance Scam, Now Faces Tax Bill from Revenue Quebec
A man from the Trois-Rivieres region who fell prey to an elaborate romance scheme orchestrated by an African organized crime member is now fighting a second battle: Revenue Quebec is demanding roughly $30,000 in taxes on the retirement funds he was coerced into cashing out.
Over several months, Aboubacar Sidiki Diallo extracted close to $284,000 from Mario Bergeron by weaving a fake romantic relationship. Diallo, who is now incarcerated, used a bogus Facebook profile under the name "Philline Desgagnes" to lure his target. Daily messages, photographs, phone calls relayed through a female accomplice, and small gifts sent by mail helped build trust over a four-month period.
At the time, Bergeron was reeling from the end of a 30-year relationship. His former partner had recently told him she no longer loved him, shattering the retirement plans they had built together. Family troubles compounded his distress. He describes this period as one of vulnerability rather than inherent weakness.
The fraudster spoke knowledgeably about local restaurants and landmarks in Trois-Rivieres, lending credibility to the fabricated persona. After four months, "Philline" began requesting money. She claimed she needed funds to settle her share of a mortgage for a home they would supposedly share, promising repayment once she received proceeds from the sale of land inherited from her father in Martinique. She even provided notarized documents, which Bergeron verified independently.
Convinced, Bergeron sold his Saint-Laurent home near Montreal and transferred his entire registered retirement savings plan. He then moved to Trois-Rivieres to begin his new life. The deception unraveled when he visited the workplace of his supposed partner and discovered no such person existed. He believes the criminals deliberately isolated him by luring him to a city where he had no relatives or support network.
Today, Bergeron lives in a modest apartment and works part-time. He shares his experience at conferences organized by the Trois-Rivieres police service, hoping to help other victims come forward. He says three people have approached him after his talks to report similar experiences they had never reported to authorities.
Diallo entered Canada on a study permit for the Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres but never attended classes. In late August, the Immigration and Refugee Board declared him inadmissible to Canada. He is currently serving a prison sentence and will be deported upon release.
Bergeron has also launched a campaign to change how Quebec compensates fraud victims. The province's crime victim compensation program, IVAC, currently excludes financial fraud because it classifies such crimes as property offences rather than crimes against personal integrity. Bergeron argues the psychological wounds are just as real.
Source: Radio-Canada
Source: Google News CA — Québec (FR)