When love hurts – how to avoid romance scams | #DatingScams | #LoveScams | #RomanceScans

Last year, cold-hearted criminals stole more than $40 million from vulnerable victims across Australia, with victims 55 and over suffering the highest individual losses. In South Australia, more than $2.1 million was lost to scammers in the same year.

Dating and romance scams often take place through online dating websites, but scammers may also use social media or email to make contact.

“Scammers typically create fake online profiles designed to lure you in. They may use a fictional name, or falsely take on the identities of real, trusted people such as military personnel, aid workers or professionals working abroad,” Cybercrime’s Sergeant David Mitchell said.

“They have even been known to phone their victims as a first introduction. These scams are also known as ‘catfishing’.

“Once trust is established, the scammer will share elaborate stories and ask for money, for example to cover costs with illness, injury, family crises, or travel.

“In a technique called ‘romance baiting’, scammers may also develop a relationship before convincing victims to participate in a false investment, usually in cryptocurrency.”

Red flags:

• Quick to fall in love or you develop a fast, close friendship.
• Promises of love, overly flirtatious and complimentary.
• Scammers may send their victim small gifts to “ensure they are genuine”.
• More often than not, there is a reason why their webcam isn’t working.
• Promises to meet in person, however, there is always an excuse to delay.
• Scammers will tell you what to say to bank tellers/checkout operators when they ask what you want money/gift cards for.

Prevention advice:

• Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person.
• Always consider the possibility that the approach may be a scam. Try to remove the emotion from your decision-making, no matter how caring or persistent the ‘prospective partner’ is.
• Conduct an image search of your admirer to help confirm who they are claiming to be.
• Be alert to things like spelling and grammar mistakes, inconsistencies in their stories and other signs to indicate that it may be a scam.
• Be cautious when sharing personal pictures or videos with prospective partners, especially if you’ve never met them before. Scammers are known to blackmail their targets using compromising material.

Real-life example:

More than two years ago, Karen from Adelaide started a relationship with a man who was allegedly living overseas. After weeks of online chat, Karen transferred a total amount of $50,000 into his bank account, which she believed was going towards his education. When Karen travelled overseas to meet her online partner in person, he didn’t turn up. She has since ceased all contact with him, but has been left emotionally broken, not to mention $50,000 poorer.

Report

• If you have suffered harm or loss because of a scam, make a report at www.cyber.gov.au/report or attend your local police station.

Support

For more information visit www.police.sa.gov.au/scams-week