In our quest for love and companionship, the internet has become a popular platform. However, it’s crucial to be aware of the dangers that come with online romance. Romance scams are prevalent in the places we socialize like Facebook, Instagram, Words with Friends and other online platforms. Romance scammers, preying on our human need for connection, are increasingly using digital platforms to scam people.
One of the most important points to stress is that romance scams can happen to anyone. Scammers do not discriminate based on age, gender or socioeconomic status. Whether you’re a young adult seeking your first love or a senior looking for companionship, scammers are adept at tailoring their approaches to suit their targets.
Here are the key points to remember about romance scams:
- Scams can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender or background.
- Scammers use online dating apps, websites and social media platforms to find potential victims.
- Scammers create a false identity using fake profiles and stolen photos.
- Scammers often engage in long conversations and shower their victims with affectionate messages, building trust before asking for money.
- Signs to watch out for include the scammer asking for money, avoiding meeting in person and encouraging you to keep the relationship secret.
To protect yourself from falling victim to these heartless scams, here’s what you can do:
- Stay cautious, ask questions and trust your instincts.
- Verify identities before getting too involved. You can check a suitor’s photo by using Google’s image search function. If the same picture shows up elsewhere with a different name, the scammer may have stolen it.
- Never send money to someone you don’t know or share banking or personal information, such as routing and account numbers, mother’s maiden name, Social Security number and even birthdays.
- Report suspicious activity to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Although online romance scams are a dark reality, we can protect ourselves by staying informed and aware of scammers’ tactics. By navigating the digital world safely, we can seek genuine connections without fear.
Article by Kara Robinson, TFCU Financial Educator
About the author
Kara Robinson started with Tinker Federal Credit Union as a teller and earned a coveted leadership development role within the credit union that lead her to the position of Financial Educator. Kara enjoys helping others and has a passion for financial education. Learn more about TFCU’s Financial Education team here.