Tips to avoid falling for a romance scam

Here are tips from the FTC and McClellan, the Social Catfish CEO:

Scammers pretend to be heroes in faraway places. The phony Marines, soldiers, admirals, generals, diplomats and surgeons claim they can’t speak or show their faces because they’re in Afghanistan, Ukraine or South Sudan – but they aren’t. Scammers say they’re in love.

You can’t meet these faraway “friends” in person, but they’ll chat with you daily. Too soon, they surprise you with declarations of love, or ask to marry you, and say you can share all your secrets (and money) with them now. Don’t believe them.

Scammers ask for expensive favors. They might ask you to accept a package of cash, gems and gold and pay the fake “shipping fee” that really goes into their pocket. Or, they ask for new phones to replace broken ones or beg for gift cards and presents for the “kids they left back home.” (There aren’t any kids.) If you say OK to one request, they come back with another – and then another.

Scammers always ask for money. They make plans to visit but tell you they’re delayed by costly problems: a lost airline ticket or visa, a medical emergency or a blocked account. They say if you could send them some money, they could still come see you. But the minute your online love interest asks for money, you know it’s a scam. Want to know who else is a scammer? Anyone who asks you to share account numbers, send gift cards or wire transfers, or pay them with payment apps or cryptocurrency.

If you think someone is a scammer, cut off contact. Tell the online app or social media platform right away, and then tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Also report them to local law enforcement, the FBI or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

And remember, people of all ages can be scammed. McClellan has seen victims as young as 18.