Dating site scammer Serge Rivard admitted in court to having defrauded eight victims, including four women he had seduced with his fake millions and his beautiful promises.
• Also read: Dating site scammer claims three other victims
• Also read: The seductive fake millionaire released three times despite the risk he represents
By videoconference from Bordeaux prison, Serge Rivard pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud on Friday, at the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu courthouse.
The 60-year-old gray talker, who wore dark glasses and a gray T-shirt, admitted to having defrauded four former partners and as many of their relatives for more than $5,000, for a total of eight contemporary victims (see box below).
Remember that our Bureau of Investigation exposed at the beginning of 2023 the escapades of repeat offender Serge Rivard, which are reminiscent of the narrative of the popular documentary The Tinder Scammer, sur Netflix.
Dream life
According to the statement of facts filed in court, Rivard promised money, luxury cars, businesses and houses to his lovers, whom he first seduced on the Badoo dating site.
The love fraudster – who presented himself under the names Danny Gauthier, Danny Quintal, Jean-François Savoie, Francis Gauthier and Adam Quintal – claimed to be sometimes a multimillionaire heir, sometimes a seasoned businessman. He claimed to have a brain tumor and promised his lovers to leave them his wealth.
Photos provided by the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Police Department
But the fake millionaire used all sorts of reasons for not having access to his funds, which were constantly blocked. His new flame – and sometimes those around him – therefore agreed to help him out financially, while he received his fortune.
When he smelled hot soup, Rivard could use the excuse of a health issue to go to the hospital, before running away.
The sentence in 2025
Judge Stéphane Godri postponed the case until November 18, so that a date can be set for the sentencing representations, which should be held next winter.
Victims of Serge Rivard could then be called to testify about the consequences experienced following the crimes committed by the fraudster, said the Crown prosecutor in the case, Mr.e Simon Boulianne.
Note that Serge Rivard has been detained since his arrest, which occurred in Montreal in December 2022.
Eight victims, including four spouses
- Between August and December 2021: While he is on illegal release, Serge Rivard defrauds a woman in Montreal as well as one of her friends. The first will find herself on the street, while the second will lose more than $10,000.
- Between July and September 2022: While he is again on illegal liberty, he defrauds a woman from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and her son, in addition to another woman in Saint-Léon-le-Grand, in Mauricie, who allegedly lost around $3500.
- Between November and December 2022: Freshly released from prison, Rivard defrauds a lady from Saint-Hyacinthe, her daughter and her son-in-law. In particular, he had ordered more than $222,000 worth of luxury cars from them.
A repeat fraudster
- 2015: Serge Rivard gets six months in prison for defrauding a woman in Repentigny, whom he met online.
- 2016: Rivard is sentenced to two years in penitentiary for having defrauded his sister-in-law, in Quebec, as well as a lady from Vaudreuil-Dorion, met on the Badoo site.
- 2019: He is serving a sentence of two years, four months and one day for having defrauded a lady from Terrebonne and another from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, both of whom he met online.
- 2020: He is sentenced to serve an additional eight months for having defrauded a lady from Lévis and a woman from Longueuil, as well as the children and a friend of the latter. These spouses had also been met on Badoo.
