Online Romance Scams
Online dating has opened up a door for cybercriminals to adopt fake identities, gaining the trust and affection of their victims. These scammers create an emotional connection with the end goal being financial gain. In 2023, consumers lost more than $1.14 billion to online romance scams, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). With this number on the rise, we need to be educated about the different types of scams as a way to stop them before you (or someone you know) becomes a victim.
How do romance scams work?
Fake profiles are created with stolen photos. Once someone shows them interest, they convince you to communicate with them outside of the online dating site, app or social media platform. This way they are no longer trackable by that website or app. Fraudsters are good at making the victim feel as though they are really interested in them, building up a loving relationship with promises of commitment. They often ask many questions but share little about themselves. Once they feel they have gained the victim’s trust, they will ask for money. They may ask for gas money, plane tickets or to help cover their medical expenses. These scams usually end when the victim realizes what is going on and stops sending money. However, the victims do not always report the fraud because they are embarrassed.
Red flags to help you spot a romance scammer:
- They will ask you for money and tell you how to pay. They will want your money in a way that is not trackable and hard to get back. This includes wiring them money, purchasing gift cards and then provide them with the PIN code or sending cryptocurrency.
- They will ask you to send money in order to receive a package.
- They aren’t able to meet you in person. Because the scammers look nothing like the profile photos, they make plausible sounding excuses as to why they can’t meet in person, often saying they are traveling or in the military.
- When talking to your family and friends about a new special someone, pay attention if they seem concerned.
You can do your part if you see suspicious profiles or messages by reporting them to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. For additional information on romance scams, check out ftc.gov/romancescams.
