Romance Scams - How To Protect Yourself

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services suggests the following:

Recent statistics show there are almost 8,000 dating sites worldwide and that more than 49 million Americans have tried online dating. Unfortunately, not everyone you meet on these sites is being honest and aboveboard. There are scammers out there who will tug at your heartstrings and take advantage of your search for love.

Romance scammers are masters of "catfishing," the act of setting up a false personal profile for fraudulent or deceptive purposes. These profiles are often comprised of information, such as photos, names, addresses, etc., stolen from legitimate online profiles. Romance scammers will troll dating sites and tailor their profile to make themselves as attractive as possible to potential victims.

In addition to online dating sites, romance scammers may also use social media or email to connect with potential victims. Whatever their initial approach, romance scammers will soon want to move your conversations to the telephone, email, or instant messaging, in other words, somewhere more private. They will take the time and steps necessary to gain your trust, but once they have set the hook, the requests for money, favors, gifts, and possibly things of a more intimate nature will start rolling in.

Confidence fraud or romance scams ranked among the top 10 crime types reported in 2017 to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center. These scams resulted in losses to victims totaling over $211 million. There are warning signs to look for and steps to take to make sure a search for love and romance doesn't lead to heartache and financial ruin at the hands of a scammer.

Warning Signs

1. Scammers generally come on strong in the beginning and try to quickly move communications to email or private messaging, just in case their profile gets flagged or shut down.
2. The information in their online profile may not match what they say or how they sound.
3. Their messages are often vague and poorly written.
4. Their camera never works if you ask to video chat.
5. They always have an excuse or reason for why they cannot travel to meet you in person. One common scam involves the scammer asking for travel money, so they can come to meet you, and then never showing up.
6. After gaining your trust, possibly over an extended period of time, they share an elaborate story that ends in a request for money, gifts, or bank account/credit card information.
7. The scammer's messages become demanding, desperate, and persistent if you do not send money when they request it.

Protect Yourself

1. Run an image search on the profile picture or any other pictures they send to determine if they are really who they say they are.
2. Be careful about sharing personal pictures or videos with someone you have only met online.
3. Never send money, gift cards, bank account/credit card information to someone you have only met online.
4. Do not transfer money for someone else.
5. Do not pick up or accept a package and forward it or deliver it for someone you have only met online.
6. Tell family and friends when and where you are going if you agree to meet an online "friend" in person.