Fake millionaire Serge Rivard is said to have tricked at least seven women via dating site Badoo, including one who ended up on the street after crossing his path.
• Also read: Fake millionaire still accused of cheating on women he allegedly seduced
“I’m scarred by it for life. I lost everything, I found myself on the street because of him! I’m still suffering from it,” said Caroline Cloutier, who lost her money and home after meeting Serge Rivard, whom she knew as Charles Danny Quintal.
Our investigative agency revealed yesterday that Serge Rivard, who presented himself under several false names, extorted thousands of dollars from women he had promised money, travel, houses and a life of luxury.
It is thanks to our report that Ms Cloutier learned yesterday for the first time the real names of those she visited from August to November 2021.
“When I saw that, I started to cry […] I’ve been through hell,” breathes the Laval resident.
“He took money from one of my friends, from my parents, he lived under my arm,” adds the mother of the family.
rich heritage
As he would have done with several other women, Serge Rivard would have presented himself as a rich heir. He said he owned companies, a mansion in Germany, art galleries and shops.
But the slick talker never had access to his accounts.
“The money was frozen, the lawyers took care of it, he wanted to give us the money back and he promised us millions because we would lend him money,” the lady recalls.
At one point, Ms. Cloutier, who was behind on her rent, was evicted from her apartment.
With Serge Rivard she would have found refuge in the hotel and with a relative. A friend of her daughter discovered the rose pot while researching on the internet.
“I had just realized that I had just been attacked,” laments Ms. Cloutier, who eventually found refuge in a women’s shelter.
Seven cheated women
Our Bureau of Investigation has listed at least seven women who believe they were cheated and fell in love with Serge Rivard after meeting him on Badoo.
Terrebonne-based Daniela Leoni had to travel to all corners of the world with Serge Rivard, who presented himself under the name Danny Gauthier. But he would rather have stolen thousands of dollars from her by cashing fake checks.
Eastman’s Nathalie Grimard would have been fooled by Serge Rivard, renamed Danny Ménard, in the fall of 2018. She would have discovered the web of lies after three months of dating and after she and her relatives had lost thousands of dollars.
Real doctor’s photo used
Fraudster Serge Rivard, who presented himself under several false names including Danny Gauthier, is said to have used a photo of a Montreal doctor to illustrate his profile on dating site Badoo a few years ago.
Informed by an acquaintance that his picture was circulating on this social network, the “real” Danny Gauthier reported it to the police.
“I was wondering if he came to the clinic to see me before taking the picture because the description of my body on Badoo was very accurate,” says Dr. Gauthier.
Serge Rivard would also have used the image of an athletic young man to communicate with Daniela Leoni, from whom he extorted thousands of dollars last fall.
“He told me he didn’t look like the picture, he didn’t have a beard anymore, he didn’t dye his hair anymore and he’d put on a bit of fat,” recalls the woman from Terrebonne.
Serge Rivard, 58, has a criminal record for fraud and is facing new fraud allegations. Arrested before Christmas, he has to undergo his release examination this morning.