As technology continues to advance, so do the tactics used by scammers. One of the most prevalent types of scams is the romance scam, in which a criminal creates a fake online identity, often referred to as a fake profile, to lure a victim into a romantic relationship. The scammer uses the illusion of love and emotional connection to manipulate the victim, often resulting in financial loss and heartbreak.
Romance scammers are skilled at their craft, often presenting themselves as genuine and empathetic individuals. Unfortunately, they can be found on nearly all dating sites and social networks, preying on vulnerable individuals seeking companionship and love.
What you need to know about Romance Scams
Romance scammers aim to quickly form a relationship with their targets, using emotional manipulation to gain their trust and affection. They may even make grand promises of marriage or future meetings, but these are all empty gestures. Inevitably, the scammer will ask for money, revealing their true intentions and leaving their victim feeling devastated and betrayed.
Scammers frequently create a persona of being a construction worker or a military personnel serving in conflict areas such as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, or other similar hotspots. This enables them to avoid meeting their victim in person, and when they ask for money for a supposed medical emergency or unforeseen legal expenses, it seems like a believable story.
If someone with whom you communicate on the Internet needs your bank account information to transfer some amount of money, they will most likely use your account for other theft and fraud schemes.
How to recognize a scam on a dating site?
If you have been scammed on a dating website or app, feel free to talk about it. Victims of such scams try not to advertise what happened, as they may feel ashamed or uncomfortable talking about it, especially when they realize that they were deceived.
There are agencies around the world where you can report about scam:
- In the United States, about online-dating scam can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission or the FBI’s Online Fraud Complaint Center.
- In the UK, to the Action Fraud agency.
- In Australia, to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
You also need to report about fraud on the dating site or in the application. Submit the name of the fraudulent user and as much fraud-related information as possible, including conversations and transactions, so that site moderators can take action to protect other users.
In case of loss of money, you should contact the bank as soon as possible and explain the situation to them. You also need to contact the police at the place of residence and write a statement about fraud.
Tips for Avoiding Romance Scams:
- Be careful what you post and make public online. Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
- Research the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.
- Go slowly and ask lots of questions.
- Beware if the individual seems too perfect or quickly asks you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.
- Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family or requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.
- Beware if the individual promises to meet in person but then always comes up with an excuse why he or she can’t. If you haven’t met the person after a few months, for whatever reason, you have good reason to be suspicious.
- Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.
