Sometimes, scammers use matters of the heart to trick unsuspecting individuals into giving up money or personal information. It’s often called “romance fraud,” and every year, people fall victim, resulting in millions if not billions of dollars lost. This scam not only damages someone financially but also emotionally. So, what is romance fraud and how does it work? To avoid being manipulated by a scammer pretending to want your love and attention, here’s what you need to know about this new scam tactic.
With romance fraud, a scammer creates a fake identity on online dating apps, social media, or even gaming sites. They will often use stolen photos and fabricate personal details to assume a convincing persona. They will then study their target and match that fabricated persona by leveraging mutual interests, values, or personality traits. They may also assume a celebrity's identity to appear even more convincing.
Once the scammer has all the information they need, they initiate conversations with their victims through text, email, or phone calls with cryptic messages intended to elicit a response. Also, they will try to woo the victim with kind and romantic words. Once the victim responds, the scammer may start communicating frequently and/or make early declarations of love. These are tactics to establish a deeper connection with the victim and aim for a long-term commitment to get the most out of their efforts. Unfortunately, they exploit a real human need for connection, which makes this kind of scam especially risky.
With the victim’s trust and confidence, now comes the part where the scam gets financially damaging. When a money request comes into play, that is the biggest sign you’re being scammed, and the reality of the situation becomes apparent. Scammers may pose different scenarios that would necessitate sending over money, including medical emergencies, investment opportunities, or even travel expenses to ‘visit’ the victim. And like many other scams, they try to instill a sense of urgency or even guilt-trip the victim. Monetary losses from romance scams are in the hundreds of millions.
Romance fraud is a very rehearsed and sophisticated exploit. However, as with any other scam, prevention starts with keeping your vital information safe from any unknown party. If you can’t verify anything about the person contacting you, do not send money or confidential account information. Make sure to verify the identity of the person or institution and check for any inconsistencies. And if necessary, consult close family and friends and get their input on the situation.
If you suspect you’re being scammed, report all activity and cease communication immediately. Catching scams early can make a big difference.
Visit our Fraud Prevention page for more resources to protect yourself from scam artists.