See the red flag warnings and how to protect yourself from ‘Valentine’s Day Romance Scams’
As we approach Valentine’s Day 2023, federal and local law enforcement agencies are issuing warnings for the public to be aware and look out for the variety of Romance Scams that are also connected to the one day of the year devoted entirely to love. As February 14 gets closer, be reminded that there are ne’er-do-wells and scammers out there are committed to ruining that annual day of love for us.
On February 6, the FBI issued a warning to be extra vigilant of potential romance scams.
In 2021, consumers (nationwide) lost a record $547 million to romance scams, according to a report from the Federal Trade Commission. That represents an 80% increase compared to 2020 and brought the median personal loss to $2,400. ~ CNBC
In South Carolina alone, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) 2021 annual report revealed that residents of the Tar Heel State lost a total of $6.8 million dollars to confidence fraud and romance scams that year. Data for 2022 hasn’t been released yet, but according to the FBI, it is expected there will be increased reported losses due to recent upward trends.
“Cyber criminals use any information they can find about you to gain your trust, build a relationship, and ultimately steal your money or personal identifiable information (PII),” said Susan Ferensic, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Division.
“We want the public to be well informed about how these scams occur and how they can better protect themselves.”
Virginia provides yet another warning . . .
The following are examples of common red flags of romance scams, as well as tips to better protect yourself.
Common Romance Scam Red Flags:
- The scammer makes promises to meet in person but gives excuses as to why they can’t.
- The scammer will ask for money once they gain your trust. Typically, they explain they have an owed debt, need financial assistance, or they ask for travel funds.
- The scammer will request money through methods that make it hard to be traced and hard to get back.
- The scammer may ask to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Be careful what you post and make public online.
- If you suspect a scam, stop communicating with the person immediately.
- Conduct a reverse image search of the person’s photo(s). If it is associated with another name or profile, it is likely a scam.
- Take things slow and ask a lot of questions.
- Never send money to someone you have only communicated with online or by phone.
If you suspect you are involved in a romance scam or you have fallen victim, report the incident to the FBI’s IC3 by visiting www.ic3.gov.
(Source: FBI / Columbia)
(Cover photo, “What is Romance Fraud?” Image credit: Twitter)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
