Warrant out for man accused of defrauding widow

Calgary police are looking for a convicted con man who is accused of defrauding a woman of more than $25,000.

A province-wide warrant was issued Thursday for Duncan James Ryan, 47, also known as James Ryan, of no fixed address. He's wanted for fraud over $5,000, theft and impersonation of a lawyer.

The victim, who is a widow in her late 50s, needed some minor legal matters dealt with and was introduced to Ryan in mid-March by a friend, said Det. Steve Harris.

In less than two weeks, the woman had lost the bulk of her life savings.

The victim's friend had met Ryan through an online dating site, said Harris.

"Like any fraud artist, he's obviously very smooth, good personality, very convincing," he said.

In 2002, Ryan, who worked as a paralegal, was sentenced in Newfoundland to two years in prison for a series of fraudulent schemes involving his clients. They lost more than $160,000.

Ryan is currently also wanted on Canada-wide warrants for parole violations.

Harris said Calgary investigators are also assisting in fraud investigations in Red Deer and Kelowna where a man has been meeting mature, single women through online dating services.