Online dating provides the ideal environment for criminals to remain anonymous while targeting vulnerable individuals seeking companionship. What may start as a simple romance in chat rooms, direct messages or email can quickly evolve into a romance scam, stealing more than someone’s heart. With love in the air for Valentine’s Day, Pasco Sheriff’s Office is sharing ways to stay safe while connecting online and avoid becoming a victim of a romance scam.
Romance scams are a tale as old as time: criminals online try to cheat innocent individuals out of valuable information or their hard-earned money. Never send funds to someone you haven’t met in person. Specific forms of currency can be the same as sending cash, with little ways to trace or recover it. This includes cash substitutes such as bitcoin, wire transfers, gift cards or using mobile payment apps like Venmo, Zelle or Cash App. Once transactions are sent through those methods, they’re likely gone for good! Not all scammers ask for something; some may offer a favor or opportunity to lure unsuspecting victims. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true.
Click Here For Original Source.
. . . . . . .
Related
