My elderly mother has fallen prey to a cruel online romance scam that continues to dominate her life and is starting to drain her financially and emotionally. As many of you know, we also lost my sister in 2023, who was a dependent and lived with my mom. Since her passing, the scammer has identified my mom as extremely vulnerable and lonely. She genuinely believes she has found a new, loving and reliable companion, despite pleading from family members, visits from community police officers, and significant evidence to the contrary. It’s hard to wrap your head around the fact that they have never actually met.  We continue to break the cycle while trying to impart our love and concern, but none of these difficult interventions have helped. She guards her cell phone like a newborn baby and has lied openly to family in denial, while secretly calling the scammer when we are visiting - or warning the scammer not to call at certain times. The scammer(s) continue to  groom and manipulate her into sending money through bitcoin machines, a method that is almost impossible to trace and recover funds from.

Bitcoin ATMs, scattered across Ontario, are increasingly being used in fraudulent activities due to their unregulated nature and the anonymity they provide. This has made them a preferred choice for scammers targeting vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly. It's heart-wrenching to live through watching my almost 80 year-old mother be groomed to the point of even understanding how to use bitcoin (I sure don’t!) but these machines allow easy access to untraceable transactions.  Many countries have policies banning bitcoin and cryptocurrencies or limiting their use but Canada continues to allow their use while simultaneously reporting huge numbers of fraudulent accounts that sadly involve more of our neighbours, family members and friends than fathomable.  If you check out a global map for bitcoin and cryptocurrency, North America appears to be the Wild West for bitcoin and hence for scamming enterprises to set up shop. 

According to a report by the Ontario Provincial Police, there has been a significant rise in scams facilitated by bitcoin machines, with hundreds of Ontario residents falling victim each year. These machines, though meant to offer financial freedom and innovation, have instead become tools of exploitation. The anonymous nature of transactions makes it very difficult for law enforcement to protect and assist victims.

Moreover, regulations surrounding these machines are still in their infancy, and without proper oversight, they pose a grave risk to our communities. We need to prioritize the safety and security of our residents, especially the most vulnerable.

I urge the Government of Ontario to take immediate action by banning bitcoin machines to prevent further exploitation of our citizens. By removing these machines, we can protect countless others from falling into the same traps that target the unsuspecting and the trusting.

Join me in demanding change and ensuring that our communities are safeguarded against financial abuse. Let's make Ontario a safer place for everyone. Please sign this petition and let’s put an end to this growing threat.