Man charged in alleged $1M romance fraud case in Durham
Romance fraud charges: Durham police say a Marmora man is accused of scamming women out of $1M. See how investigators say the scheme worked.
Durham police say a 41yearold Marmora, Ont., man is facing several charges after an investigation into an alleged romance fraud scheme involving multiple women.
Police allege Salvatore Malandrino defrauded women he had romantic relationships with of more than $1 million. The charges include fraud over $5,000, laundering proceeds of crime, possessing proceeds obtained by crime, failing to comply with a release order, and uttering a forged document.
Investigators say the financial crimes unit began looking into the case in November 2025. Police allege Malandrino built trust through personal relationships, then persuaded victims to provide money for supposed investments, loans, business opportunities, and emergencies. He was arrested in Ajax on Monday and is being held for a bail hearing.