With Valentines Day coming, we think of love, roses, and candy. But other people think about how to use your emotions to steal your money with a romance scam.
Romance scammers lurk in dating apps and social media ready to quickly profess affection for you. After a while they may come up with a reason to ask for some financial help with a situation or emergency. Or, lately, might offer to help you make a killing in cryptocurrency. Romance scammers have been so successful that in 2022 Americans lost $1.3 billion to romance scams according to the Federal Trade Commission. The median amount lost was $4,400 in 2022.
Romance scammers are not individuals causing havoc in people’s lives. They are organized, sophisticated crime rings that know how to manipulate their prey and rake in millions of dollars a year.
There are red flags that you can be on the lookout for that can give you a warning as you search for companionship,
·
The other person tries to move the relationship
along quickly, professing their love in short order.
·
The other person wants to move communications quickly
away to another messaging platform.
·
The other person claims to live overseas in an
isolated area.
·
The other person asks for monetary help for an
urgent matter such as medical expenses.
·
They want payment in a hard-to-track form such
as gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Should you encounter this red flag, DO NOT
GIVE MONEY TO ANYONE THAT YOU HAVE NOT MET IN PERSON!!!
·
They pull out or do not show for a planned meeting
in person.
If you run across any of these red flags, CUT OFF COMMUNICATIONS
IMMEDIATELY!!!!!
Also, report this person,
·
To your local police department.
·
To the FBI at www.ic3.gov
·
To the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov
National Cybersecurity Alliance:
Federal Trade Commission:
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