Watch out for common romance scams online
FTC: At least 40% of people reported first contact via social media
Love hurts – especially when it’s a scam.
People often look to dating online. And while online dating is quite popular, it’s important to be on the lookout for romance scams, which have become quite common.
Nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam in 2022, and reported losses of $1.3 billion, the Federal Trade Commission reported. Romance scams occur when a person takes on a fake online identity to gain a victim’s trust in order to ultimately steal from the victim, according to the FBI.
These scams are in every part of the country.
In January, a 36-year-old Florida woman swindled a Holocaust survivor out of $2.8 million after they met on a dating app. Peaches Stergo “repeatedly lied” to the 87-year-old man she was dating , according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
A California man who claimed to be a millionaire stole $1.5 million from 19 victims, many of whom he had a romantic relationship with. The Department of Justice said Ze’shawn Stanley Campbell, 35, told his victims he was a successful real estate and cryptocurrency investor and was a Navy SEAL.
While online dating apps are popular with romance scammers, the FTC reports that scams can start with unexpected private messages in social media apps too.
At least 40% of people who lost money in a romance scam reported being contacted on social media.
What to watch out for
● Romance scammers will lie about not being able to meet in person, because they’re in the military, working internationally or traveling, according to the FTC.
● They will ask for money, and tell you how to pay, whether it be through a wire, gift card, money transfer app or cryptocurrency. So, if the love interest asks for money, it’s probably a scam.
● If they ask you to receive a package, it’s a scam.
● If they try to isolate you from friends and family or request inappropriate photos or financial information, they may try to extort you, the FBI says.
● If they ask you to leave a dating service to communicate on social media, it’s a red flag.
The FBI recommends asking a lot of questions to make sure the person you are communicating with is legitimate, and to research their photo and profile using their image, name or any other details you may have.
Where can I report a scam?
● Federal Trade Commission: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
● FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: https://www.ic3.gov/
● Your local police department