Woman Loses $50,000 in Online Dating Scam: Deputies

An Ocala woman developed an online relationship with a suspect who scammed her out of $50,000, officials said.

A 66-year-old Florida woman lost $50,000 after a person she met on a dating site scammed her into sending funds for a supposed building project, officials said.

The Ocala woman developed an online relationship with the suspect via a popular dating site, said a news release from the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

According to authorities, the suspect's pitch was this: “I’m a contractor who is in the process of building a bridge in Malaysia and I need money to start the project.”

Now, officials are reminding seniors to watch out for online scams. The sheriff's office is hosting a "Be Scam Smart" workshop as part of Operation S.A.F.E. (Stop Adult Financial Exploitation) at 10 a.m. on Oct. 16th. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 3300 NW 10th Street in Ocala.

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