Romance scam: Gatineau man defrauded of $150,000
Marie-Eve Turpin
The alleged scammer, 60-year-old Marie Louise Boucher, was arrested in February by officers of the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG). She is believed to have stolen more than $150,000 from a Gatineau resident as part of a love fraud scheme. The investigation began in March 2021 when the victim contacted the SPVG to file a complaint for fraud.
The Gatineau man reportedly met the accused online in 2014 through social networks. The latter identified herself as Sofia Rose Saputo-Marcotte and said she worked in wine importation. In order to gain the victim’s trust, Boucher maintained almost daily communication with the man via the Internet, and sometimes by phone. She even created a network of fake relationships around the screen name “Sofia Rose” to ensure that her victim had no doubt she was real. Boucher would always say that their meeting was imminent, but that meeting never happened.
As one thing led to another, the victim’s feelings toward “Sofia Rose” deepened and trust was established. “Sofia Rose” took advantage of that trust and managed to convince the man to transfer various amounts of money to her to pay current bills and to help with her wine import business. Over the years, more than $150,000 was sent by the victim to the accused. Although she promised to reimburse him as soon as she could, she never did, despite some payments made. As soon as the man told “Sofia Rose” that he was no longer able to help her financially, she stopped all communication with him.
The SPVG investigation led to the identification of the scammer hiding behind the virtual identity of Sofia Rose Saputo-Marcotte, namely Marie Louise Boucher, 60, from Quebec City. SPVG investigators travelled to Quebec City to arrest her and search her residence, with the assistance of their colleagues at the Service de police de la Ville de Québec (SPVQ). Boucher was questioned and later released with various conditions and a promise to appear. She is charged with fraud exceeding $5,000.
At this time, SPVG investigators have no reason to believe that Ms Boucher has defrauded other people. However, this possibility has not been ruled out. Anyone who believes they have been a victim of Boucher or has information regarding this scheme is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Marc Cyr at 819-243-2345, ext. 6051.