Ottawa woman accuses husband of ‘love bombing,’ leaving her $300K in debt

Browsing the internet or social media will bring about many first-hand accounts of dating and marriage horror stories that would render even the most hopeless romantic a cynic. Here’s one such story.

Christina MacCrimmon of Ottawa claims she was the victim of ‘love bombing’, that left her nearly $300,000 in debt.

"It’s just unimaginable to think that somebody can honestly do what he has done and still be able to live with themselves the next day," MacCrimmon told CBC News.

How the nightmare unfolded

In the CBC report, MacCrimmon described a whirlwind, two-month romance in which she married Francis Charron, the man she now alleges manipulated her to gain access to her money.

CBC said it has discovered that Charron has also been accused of fraud by multiple people and is facing a number of civil and small claims lawsuits concerning his contracting business.

"He portrayed himself to be that perfect. He found out exactly what I wanted in somebody and then behaved and was that perfect man," MacCrimmon told CBC about falling head over heels for Charron in November, 2023.

But then her world would unravel. He told her that he likely had brain cancer. They married just two months later on January 21, 2024.

MacCrimmon remembers how she would dance in the kitchen with the supposed love of her life.

"He called it ‘Romance Fridays’ and he’d send me these love songs," MacCrimmon recalled. "He treated me with such love and devotion, he just had me on this pedestal."

She alleges he manipulated her into loaning him money by "love bombing" her with affection and compliments, but also by making her feel sorry for him because of his own financial hardships.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, love bombing is a form of psychological and emotional abuse that involves a person going above and beyond for a partner as a manipulation tactic. It looks different for every person, but it usually involves some form of excessive flattery and praise, over-communication of their feelings for you, showering you with unneeded/unwanted gifts, as well as early and intense talks about your future together.

Over the course of their brief two-month relationship, MacCrimmon said she loaned Charron money from her line of credit, allowed him to use her credit card and eventually added him as a supplementary card holder.

"He took everything. This is my whole life, this is my savings. I’m going to be struggling to even retire now," MacCrimmon explained.

Even worse, she is left with no money to hire an attorney to help her navigate the situation she has ended up in, while police also admit that it will take a long time to investigate this particular scenario.

The financial toll of being tricked by love bombing

Falling prey to a love bomber can be costly for victims who may have lost money, assets and perhaps gained additional debt.

According to Women’s Wealth, there are several financial warning signs potential victims should pay close attention to in order to prevent a nightmare from unfolding in their lives. Over-the-top gifts may be the first signal, as someone pours out lavish generosity and expects matching generosity in return.

Rushing into making big financial decisions is another huge red flag, especially if a potential victim starts feeling the pressure to share their bank accounts and investments.

Scammers can also start criticizing a victim’s financial independence, with the goal of introducing thoughts into their heads that weaken their financial autonomy. With that comes guilt tripping, as the scammer places doubts on the victim’s spending habits and suggests they are selfish with their money.

If you’re feeling pressured when it comes to anything financial in your relationship, consider why as this may be a red flag. Financial health is highly dependent on the trust you have with the people who have access to your money.

When it comes to finances, having eyes wide open is the best way to protect yourself. Falling prey to anyone who pretends to have feelings for you when they don’t opens the door to a host of risks, from emotional impact to personal and financial safety. Go into any relationship wisely — but especially a financial one.