What Is a Romance Scam?

A romance scam is a type of fraud where scammers create fake profiles on social media or dating sites to lure victims into a false sense of romantic involvement. The ultimate goal is to con the victim out of money or personal information. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), these scams have surged in recent years, with nearly 70,000 consumers losing $1.3 billion to romance scams in 2022 alone.

How to Spot Romance Scams

Romance scammers are adept at creating believable personas and stories. Here are some common red flags to watch out for:

• Requesting financial assistance: Scammers often fabricate sob stories to request money, such as needing funds for medical bills or travel expenses.
• Moving too fast: Be wary if someone professes love or talks about marriage quickly, especially before meeting in person.
• Avoiding a meeting: Scammers often have excuses for not meeting in person, such as being on an oil rig or in the military.
• Offering to help you invest: Some scammers offer investment advice, particularly in cryptocurrency, but the money you invest goes to them.
• Switching to another platform: If someone wants to move your conversation to a private messaging service, be cautious.
• Asking for explicit photos: Scammers may ask for explicit photos and then use them for extortion.

How to Avoid Romance Scams

Here are some tips to protect yourself from falling victim to a romance scam:

• Limit personal information: Be cautious about how much personal information you share online.
• Adjust privacy settings: Tighten your privacy settings on social media and be selective about accepting friend requests.
• Do your research: Verify the information provided by your new love interest and do a reverse image search of their photos.
• Request to meet: Insist on meeting in person before getting serious or providing any financial assistance.
• Never send money: Do not send money or share sensitive information with someone you have never met in person.
• Trust your instincts: If something feels off, trust your gut and seek a second opinion from friends or family.

Help for Victims of Romance Scams

If you have fallen victim to a romance scam, take the following steps immediately:

• Cut off contact: Stop responding to the scammer as soon as you realize you have been scammed.
• File a police report: Report the scam to your local law enforcement.
• Try to recover your money: Contact your bank or the company associated with your payment method to see if you can get a refund.
• Notify the FTC: Submit a fraud complaint with the FTC and consider filing a report with the FBI.
• Report the account: Report the scammer’s profile to the dating or social media platform.

Stay Vigilant for Identity Theft

If you have shared personal information with a scammer, you may be at risk of identity theft. Report the issue to the FTC and consider using an identity monitoring service to protect your identity and credit.

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