Valentine’s Day is around the corner. It’s a time when people around the world celebrate love and connection, spoiling their special someone with gifts and affection. It is however also a peak season for something that is very much the opposite – the romance scam.
The world has become far more interconnected than ever before, and the online space is a dangerous place if you don’t proceed with caution. At this time of year, cyber criminals use the internet to exploit vulnerable hearts through a variety of scams. As the season of romance draws near, those looking for love can easily become prey to these scammers.
Even the U.S. Secret Service warns of such scams. They caution that romance scams are most often initiated in the online space, where pervasive threats can attack people of any gender, age, or socioeconomic status.
In this article, we shine a light on how romance scammers operate and offer a few important tips to help you avoid becoming prey to such criminals.
The Anatomy of Romance Scams
When it comes to romance scams, they most often begin as what seems to be an innocent attempt to connect with someone. Emotions are expressed through words or images, with these scammers slowly drawing the victim in by gaining their trust and instilling hope that romance may exist in this connection.
These scams typically begin with a fake online profile, which is carefully crafted to appear as though it is genuine. The profiles become the initial point of contact between the scammer and the unsuspecting victim.
As soon as the connection is made, victims embark down a manipulative path with the scammer working towards the goal of creating a fake emotional kinship. As many of these victims are desperate for love, they become oblivious to what is actually happening. It’s the vulnerable and the lonely that are preyed upon, and before they know it they are in the thick of the scam.
Older individuals are usually the scammer’s victim of choice, especially those struggling in their relationships or those who are emotionally susceptible.
A Universal Threat
While some individuals are more prone to these scams than others, it’s important to recognize that romance scams don’t only impact a specific demographic. It doesn’t matter if you are a woman or a man, young or elderly, straight or gay – if you seek love through the digital world you have to be careful. In the anonymous online space, scammers always cast a wide net, meaning that anyone can be at risk.
The threat is universal, so always proceed with caution.
The Emotional Toll
These scams don’t just impact the victim financially; they also cause severe emotional trauma. Those seeking a relationship most often invest a lot of time and effort in building a hopeful relationship, so when things go south there is a heavy sense of betrayal that cuts deep. The emotional distress is often a very difficult thing to overcome, especially for those who are most vulnerable.
Protecting Your Heart and Your Wallet
To avoid falling victim to a romance scam, you need to equip yourself with knowledge and have a strategy in place that keeps you protected. At the end of the day, if you are seeking love in the online space you are looking for real connection, where you are engaging with a like-minded person who is genuine and real.
Here are a few tips to ensure that you meet that person and avoid a romance scam.
- Verify the Identity: Make sure that you take time to verify the identity of the person you are engaging with. It’s fairly easy to do an online search to check the validity of what is being shared with you. See if their images online match the image of the profile, and see what information you can find online about them. If there is nothing to be found, there’s a good chance that you are engaging with a fake profile. Back away.
- Guard Your Personal Information: Always make sure that you protect your personal information. Don’t share any specific details until you are 100% sure that the person is real and not a potential scammer. It’s especially important that you don’t share any financial information, even if you believe that the profile is real. If you are communicating with a genuine like-minded connection-seeker, they will understand the need to be cautious and respect your boundaries.
- Always Stay Skeptical: If you find that the relationship is moving forward too quickly or if something just doesn’t seem right, always stay skeptical. If you receive strange requests for any sort of financial assistance or if you find that the conversation is veering that way, it may be time to back off. This is a serious red flag. Maintaining a healthy level of skepticism is always best, and never ever let emotions cloud your judgment or intuition.
- Make Sure That You Communicate with Friends and Family: We always advise that you share these online interactions with your friends or family They may be able to offer an external perspective that you may not be aware of. Listen to what they have to say and try to recognize any warnings that they pass your way. They may see something that is not all that clear to you. Emotions can often make us do strange things.
- Neve Ever Send Money: We said this earlier, but it’s important that we drive this point home. Never send money or engage in discussions around this topic. Those looking for a connection won’t weave this into the conversation. If you find that this topic comes up, it’s time to disconnect. If the connection gets pushy on this subject, report them to the online platform you are using or even to the authorities.
- Push For A Video Call: It’s important that you insist on a video call or even an in-person meeting at a safe location (once you have researched the person online and are confident that the connection is genuine). Scammers will always try to avoid this type of engagement, and you’ll very quickly get a sense of whether they are genuine or not. If they come up with excuses or delay the meeting, you are most likely dealing with a scammer.
- Educate Yourself: The best way to avoid a romance scam is to know exactly what to look out for. Read articles such as this one which shines the light on how these criminals operate. Understand the strategies they use to better prepare yourself for any potential threats.
- Always Trust Your Instincts: If something just doesn’t feel right, it’s important that you trust your instincts. As the old saying goes, if it’s too good to be true, it may be a scammer. Always trust your instincts and never ignore red flags. It’s far better to stay cautious than become a victim of these scams.
Tread Carefully When Seeking Love Online
As we head into the season of romance, it’s important to treat carefully and stay vigilant when it comes to scams such as these. By understanding how romance scammers operate around Valentine’s Day, you will position yourself well in staying clear of criminals and closer to finding a true connection.
Make sure that you research the person you are communicating with, have a clear understanding of the strategies that are used by these scammers, never share too much information, and chat with your friends and family to find out what their views are.
If you do, you may find the prince charming or sleeping beauty that you truly deserve.
If you’d like to find out more about online scams and the strategies that other criminals deploy, head over to the Anti Fraud News blog.