Romance Scams
Be Taken with Someone, Not Taken by Someone
Soon, it will be Valentine’s Day. Shades of pink and red, heart-shaped chocolates, and flowers will surround us. For many, having someone to share passion with, a Valentine if you will, is a dream come true. It is a basic human need shared by everyone. In fact, it runs so deep that there is a whole industry based on fulfilling this desire.
Matchmaking is a multi-billion-dollar industry. When that many people feel that fervently about something, it is fertile ground for fraudsters. It is a terrible reality that we must have these conversations and blogs to warn people about the evils in others. But they exist, and they prey on the vulnerabilities of the innocent. When navigating online to interact with strangers, being aware of the dangers and protecting yourself from romance scams is critical.
A romance scam, or “catfishing,” happens when a person deceives another by creating a phony profile and faking romantic interest. These fraudsters often intend to exploit the target’s feelings to scam them out of money. The additional factor that makes these scams so awful is that con artists devote abundant time to earn the trust and affection of the mark. The victim not only loses their money but is often disappointed, heartbroken, and embarrassed. The results of these schemes leave deep-rooted scars on innocent people.
Protect Yourself
Anytime people become emotionally attached to something or someone, disappointments involving the attachment run deep. It is vital to use caution when using dating platforms. The rule of thumb is never to send money or gifts to someone you haven’t personally met.
A useful tool everyone has at their fingertips is the reverse image search. If you see potential from a profile, run the search before getting attached. If the details don’t match up, for example, a different name is associated with the picture, do not engage with that person. It is likely a scammer. If you are already in online communication with someone you haven’t met face-to-face, do the reverse search for good measure.
Below, you will find more tips to avoid getting caught up by one of these schemes.
- Be Watchful – The first step is to arm yourself with knowledge of how scammers operate. Always be on guard. If you receive a request for money, definitely don’t give it.
- Use Trusted Platforms – Frequently, scam artists will start a relationship on reliable websites but then request to communicate on other platforms that may not be so reputable.
- Confirm Identities – Do your best to verify the identity of the individuals you interact with.
- Go Slow – If someone moves too quickly, that does not mean it is a scam. But it can be a warning sign. So, gain control of your heart and move slowly.
- Seek Advice – Always ask a trusted friend or family member their thoughts on how interactions are perceived. They may see something you don’t.
- Protect Your Information – Don’t give out sensitive information about yourself. Including your address, any account information, or your social security number.
- Report Any Suspicions – If you are wary of any activity, report it. It will help the authorities to investigate the situation. And you may even save someone else from becoming a victim.
What Victims Should Do
We all like to think we are too smart to be conned. Unfortunately, it can happen to anyone. Fraudsters are well-practiced and relentless. They are very well-versed in human behavior and emotions and can fool many people. If you should find yourself caught in a scam or suspect someone is attempting to defraud you, there are several steps you should take.
- Stop Communications with the Suspect – Do not continue to interact with a suspected or known fraudster. Block them.
- Record the Details – You will need records of your interaction with the suspect. You never know what specifics can be a clue to solving an investigation. Or even be a detail for others to recognize and avoid a habitual scammer.
- Report it to the Authorities – Within the U.S., local, state, and federal authorities will take your statement. File it on every level. Some links are provided at the end of this article to point you in the right direction.
- File a Complaint – Let the platform know what has happened. Reputable websites work very hard to keep their programs as trustworthy as possible.
- Inform Your Credit Union – Immediately let your credit union know what has happened. They can advise you on what steps to take to protect yourself from further damage.
- Bolster Your At-Home IT – Start changing passwords, updating accounts, and increasing device security methods. Once fraudsters have your money and information, it is unlikely that you will be able to get that back. But you can better protect yourself going forward.
- Share Your Story – For some people, telling others about their fraud experience is embarrassing and difficult. But the benefits from this are two-fold. First, you will help others to avoid these heartaches. And two, sharing can open the door to the healing process for the target.
Links for Reporting
Romance scams are a severe issue. Millions of dollars are getting stolen from victims annually. Reporting cases is one of the biggest weapons we have for fighting fraud.
To report…
- Locally – call your town or city’s police department.
- State-level – reach out to your state attorney’s office. (Florida).
- Federally – contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- Internationally – gov.