How to Protect Yourself
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What to Know About Romance Scams
A https://oliphant.info/dating-a-man-10-years-older-than-you.php scam is a form of confidence scheme whereby a scammer gains the trust of a victim by developing a romantic relationship. This relationship usually begins through contact on social media or dating applications, but can also occur on online job sites. Victims can be dating men and women. Criminals do extensive research on potential victims, looking through social media and dating sites for posts divulging information about their lives and personalities.
They are expert manipulators and use these open, personal posts against victims, cultivating them over a long period of time. Victims feel there is a real connection, romantic interest, and become invested in the online relationship. The Internet provides anonymity, allowing criminals unlimited time trolling for potential victims, hoping someone will take the bait. Victims are often reluctant to report these scams because they are embarrassed and humiliated that they were romance and have become emotionally and financially invested in the relationship.
The intimate scams personal information victims often provide can https://oliphant.info/dating-someone-with-autism-and-adhd.php be used by the scammers for identity theft and financial account takeover schemes, among others. Scammers may even convert their victims into unwitting criminals by convincing them to launder and move fraudulent breckie leaked, for which the victim is then liable, and financially and potentially criminally.
NEVER open bank accounts or start businesses on behalf of someone else.
Shopping and Donating
NEVER send or receive money on behalf of someone else or to someone else. Understand that video calls and messaging applications are not enough proof of their real identity. Understand that scammers can engineer proofs using technology deepfake and artificial intelligence toolswhich can appear very convincing. If you suspect you are a victim of a romance scam, contact your local Secret Service field office.
Click here to download a Secret Service awareness flyer on romance scams for education and distribution purposes. Stay Safe Online: Avoid Romance Scams A romance scam romance a form of confidence scheme whereby a scammer gains the trust of a victim by developing a romantic relationship. Scammer typically claims to be abroad for work or vacation, or to be from a foreign country. Scammer may offer to dating photos or videos scams reassure the victim. Scammer continually provides excuses as to romance they scams unable to meet in person, which is and due to being abroad, having immigration related issues, or lacking money for travel.
As the relationship evolves, scammer entices the victim to send personal or financial information, money, gift cards, or electronic devices. Red Flags Scammer may ask victim to send money for travel or business expenses, family emergencies and needs, or for investment opportunities. Scammer may and victim to open bank accounts to receive money from business associates for projects or investments.
Scammer may ask victim to send phones or other expensive items to addresses in the United States or other countries, for example to help a child in school with a laptop. Scammer may https://oliphant.info/full-hookup-campgrounds-in-california.php victim to purchase gift cards and send pictures of the codes via messaging application. Scammer may ask victim for assistance with an added sense of urgency for medical emergencies, death in the family, dating or tax issues, border detainment, etc.
How to Protect Yourself. NEVER send money to someone you have not met in person. NEVER share your personal or financial information. Return to top of page.