How to avoid this Valentine’s Day romance scam

Valentine’s Day is a time of love, but unfortunately it’s also a great opportunity for scammers. Prey on hopeful romantics.

Romance scams cost Americans around $1.14 billion in 2023 alone. If you are looking for love, or just a new connection, you need to be on high alert this Valentine’s Day. Scammers are more refined, but with the right knowledge, you can protect yourself and your finances from heartbreak.

Common Romance Scams to Watch out for

Romance scam There are many different shapes and sizes, but the goals are always the same. It involves manipulating money and personal information to be sent. Below are some of the most common schemes that have pop up over the past few years.

Long distance enthusiast – This scam usually starts with dating apps and social media. The con man pretends to be someone looking for love, but claims to work abroad (as a soldier, doctor, or business person). They will spend weeks or even months and then develop a relationship with you before you suddenly need money for an emergency, home town or business investment.

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Fake profile – Scammers often steal photos from real people and create fake profiles to attract victims. If the profile seems to be less true, the better – because they are. If the photo appears to belong to a magazine, do an reverse image search and see if it was stolen from someone else.

“Gift card required” trick – Instead of asking for cash, partially Scammers request gift cards As a form of payment. This is almost instantaneous. They will insist that you will need to pay medical expenses, a phone bill, or that you will need to pay to prove your love for them. Send a gift card code and your money will disappear forever.

Cryptocurrency fraud – With Bitcoin exceeding $100,000, more scammers are persuading victims to “invest” in cryptocurrency. They may tell you that they have made thousands of dollars and want to help you do the same. If you send them money, you will never see it again. Some romance scammers tell you that you don’t need cash or gift cards, but you’ll be transferring cryptocurrency.

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sexttorthor scam – Be vigilant if someone you meet online is pushing you to send explicit photos or videos. Scammers often use these images to blackmail victims and demand money in exchange for keeping their content private. Once these photos are leaked on the internet, it is extremely difficult to remove them.

How to protect yourself from romance scams

Now that you know the Red Flag, let’s talk about how to protect yourself from these heartless criminals and your finances.

Being skeptical of online strangers – If someone is too strong and too fast, it’s a red flag. Scammers often declare Even if they have never met you in person, their love within days or weeks. A real relationship takes time to build, and a legitimate love interest does not put any pressure on you money.

Verify their identity – Do your research before investing emotionally. Use Google’s reverse image search to see if your profile photo appears elsewhere. If social media looks new, there are few friends, or there are no personal posts, it’s another warning sign. If you can’t find a LinkedIn profile or a way to prove that they’re the person you say, it’s very important to cut your tie right away.

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Don’t send money to people you haven’t met before – This is the golden rule. No matter how convincing their stories are, never send money, gift cards or cryptocurrency to someone you just told online. Scammers rely on emotional manipulation to open their wallets. If they ask, they leave.

Be careful of excuses to avoid meeting in person – The con man makes excuses as to why he can’t meet you. This may be the number one prize from a scammer. If someone really loves you, why can’t they even have in-person meetings or live in-person online meetings? Whether it’s overseas expansion, sudden business trips or family emergency, they will continue to avoid face-to-face attempts. If someone is not always available, it’s a red flag.

Report a scam – If you think you have encountered a romance scam, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Reportfraud.ftc.gov. You can also notify dating sites or social media platforms where you have met scammers to prevent them from targeting others.

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Valentine’s Day is love time

It’s not impossible to find love online, but it requires healthy skepticism – especially around valentine’s day When a scammer is working overtime. Trust your gut, protect your personal and financial information, and don’t send money to people you haven’t met in real life. Love should never have a price tag. The right person will never ask you to give affection.

Stay safe, stay your head and enjoy Valentine’s Day without breaking up!

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