Do you know that in 2020, $304 million was lost due to romance scams, according to the Federal Trade Commission? Romance scams are nothing new, but it has recently gained momentum as more people spend time online and join dating apps. Truth be told, mainstream social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and even Linkedin can be platforms for scammers to find potential targets. By building trust, the scammers would find ways to extort money by striking up a relationship with the victim and getting the victim to sympathize or fall in love with them. If your loved ones are active users online, it’s important to make sure they are well-protected against these scams. Here are some ways for loved ones to avoid romance scams.
Never Send Money to a Person You Have Not Met
While this rule may seem obvious, people who are in love may tend to disregard their rationality and judgment. If your loved ones have not met the person they’re speaking to online, it’s crucial to not send any money or gifts. Usually, scammers would ask for some sort of monetary handout by coming up with make-believe stories like their parents are sick or they require money to fly over. These are clearly scams and what your loved ones need to do is to stop all kinds of communication with the person. It’s also good to encourage your loved ones to speak up on their suspicions and seek advice from family members and close friends.
Look Out for Common Transactions
Many scammers have a preferred method for their victims to transfer money or other gifts. These methods tend to be hard to reverse, so it’s almost impossible to retrieve the lost money even if your loved ones have reported the crime to the police. Some common transaction methods include wiring money and paying with reloads or gift cards. These cards allow the scammers to remain anonymous and collect the money as quickly as possible. If your loved ones encounter a person who demands these transaction methods, it most likely is a romance scam.
Look Out for Popular Stories
One thing that scammers are not good at is creativity. For many years, romance scammers have used the same stories over and over again. At this point, it’s almost a giveaway if they blurt out these few reasons. Some of these scammers may say that they’re paying off their gambling debts, while others may say they’re trying to purchase a plane ticket in order to meet the victim. These are complete lies and should be reported to the relevant authorities immediately. Other popular stories include paying custom fees to retrieve an item, paying for a visa to enter the country and collect travel documents, and paying for a range of medical expenses.
Report on a Romance Scam
If these scammers have requested your loved ones to pay with gift cards, you should contact the particular company and explain that you have been scammed. You would have to provide evidence, but most of the time, they might refund the money back. If you suspect a romance scam has taken place, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission through their website or app.
