Barbara Grant was one of many Canadians who found themsleves lonely during the pandemic.

For the first time in her life, she set out to find a connection on an online dating site.

That’s when she met Michael Janda.

“We started talking… he said, ‘You are gorgeous, I want to be with you,'” Grant said.

The two quickly formed a bond. Janda’s profile said he worked in the same oil and gas industry where she had built a successful career.

As the weeks went by, they spoke about plans of marriage and buying a home together in Victoria, B.C.

Then came the requests that preyed on her emotions.

“He told me he was caught in Doha, Qatar, carrying $1.5 million in cash,” she said, “And police put him in jail.”

The two continued to communicate on LinkedIn after moving away from the dating site whe

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