People love to be romanced. It’s in our nature. Romance scams exploit this trait, with criminals finding victims on dating sites and apps, Facebook, and other social media. Here’s how to identify and avoid this costly and heart-wrenching crime.
What is a Romance Scam?
Romance scams involve a scammer who befriends someone online, pretending to be a potential love interest. Once the relationship is strong enough, the scammer asks for money for a fake emergency or to cover some bills etc. To make things worse for the victim, the criminals may promise to return the money. All they require is the victim’s online banking username and password. If that information is shared, big losses follow.
Romance scams cost Americans hundreds of millions every year. To protect yourself and those you love, here are five ways to avoid romance scams.
- Request an in-person meeting. If it’s a scam, they will ALWAYS have an excuse that keeps them away. Ask questions and look for holes in their story.
- Never send anyone money. Just because they are a love interest doesn’t mean you need to send them cash.
- Talk to someone you trust. Ask a friend or family member to impartially examine the relationship.
- Reverse search the person’s photo. If they’re a criminal, they will use a fake image and name.
- Never share or give access to your financial information. Consider it a huge red flag if they make offers to help organize your finances, take care of your bills, or make investments on your behalf etc.
Did You Find a Romance Scam?
Report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. Learn more about romance scams here.