Love happens year-round, not only on Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, romance scams are the same. In 2021, it was reported that $547 million were sent to online romance scammers last year. While many say they were contacted on a dating app, a third of those who lost money from romance scammers were through unexpected private messages on social media.
People are getting lured into talking to people with phony online profiles, and once a relationship is established, they pull on heartstrings asking for money for medical emergencies or another grave situation. Scammers also have been pretending to be successful cryptocurrency investors by using romance to lure people into sending money for fake investments.
Here’s a few tips to spot scammers and avoid romance scams:
- Never send money or gifts to someone you haven’t met in person.
- Talk to someone you trust about this new relationship. Sometimes, we can be blinded to things that don’t add up because it’s new. Pay attention if your friends or family are concerned.
- If someone appears on your social media and rushes you to start a friendship, slow down.
- Take it slowly by asking questions and look for inconsistent answers. Try a reverse-image search of the profile pictures. If they’re associated with another name or with details that don’t match up, it’s a scam.
- If you suspect a romance scam, cut off contact and report to the online app or social media platform right away.
If you see or experience a romance scam, report it to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
*Romance-Scams-2021-Fraudsters-Left-You-Fakers-Right, Federal Trade Commission; Romance Scams Take Record Dollars in 2020, Federal Trade Commission.