Fraud Prevention: Romance Scams- There’s nothing to love about that!
How romance scams work
With romance scams, which can happen to people of all genders, fraudsters create fake online dating or social media profiles to attract and earn the trust of unsuspecting users. Their goal is to trick users into sending money or providing personal information that they can use for nefarious purposes. Here’s how it might work:
You enroll in an online dating service looking to find a partner. A potential suitor reaches out to you. They seem to meet all your requirements and match your interests.
Before long, you start to build a relationship, exchanging messages several times a day. You’re getting along so well that the person asks you to communicate more privately, by phone or text.
Then, one day, the scam begins. Your new “friend” asks you to send them money for a plane ticket to visit you or shares a story about some hardship that requires them to have money, like medical bills. They may even ask for your credit or debit card number.
The scammer may talk a good game about wanting to visit you or see you in person, but something always seems to come up that prevents that. The reason is simple – they’re not who they say they are!
Examples of lies told in romance scams
Though techniques and falsehoods vary by scammer, here are some common lies they may tell:
- Someone they love is sick or in jail and they need money.
- They want to teach you how to invest money.
- They are in the military.
- They ask for your help with an important delivery.
- They want you to send pictures that will only be used for their private use.
- They want to marry you even though you’ve never met.
How to protect yourself from a romance scam
Here are some ways to protect yourself:
- Be vigilant about what you post online. Scammers will use this information to make it appear as though they understand you.
- If you connect with someone online, research their profile and photos online to see if they are in other places.
- Proceed cautiously and ask lots of questions if someone interests you.
- If your potential partner seems a little too perfect or asks you to move to private conversations very quickly, proceed cautiously.
- Watch out if the person asks for more photos, money, or personal financial information.
- Be suspicious if the person plans to meet you in person but cancels unexpectedly.
- Never send money online or by phone to someone you haven’t met.
Additional resources to learn more
Here are more resources to help you boost your knowledge:
bankESB is here to protect you
Keeping your personal and financial information secure is one of our most important priorities. If you believe your financial information has been compromised by a scammer, contact us immediately at 855.527.4111.
