When it comes to online dating scams, there are a few things to keep in mind

One of the most common kinds of cybercrime is romance fraud. Internet surfers in need of human touch are easy prey for seasoned con artists. It's simple to understand why; hackers don't have to put in a lot of effort to acquire people's trust without ever meeting them.

What are some examples of internet dating scams? Some are carried out by someone attempting to extort money from their victims by forming a deep bond with them and then claiming they want financial assistance. Cybercriminals, on the other hand, use bots in their deceptive schemes many business listings.

Other types of online dating scams include well-organized schemes involving numerous persons and centered on dating websites. These work in a variety of ways. Some may try to trick you into becoming a long-term paying customer, while others will try to infect your device with malware.

They can then track your online activities, video you using your camera, and use this information to blackmail you. Your credit card and online banking information might potentially be stolen. Alternatively, they may encrypt everything and demand a ransom in exchange for access to your data and equipment.

What are the most typical types of online dating scams?

Dating scams have been around for a long time, but they're becoming more common every year. Between 2020 and 2021, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimated a significant increase in the annual financial harm caused by online dating fraud. Consumers will lose $547 million in 2021. According to the most recent figures, losses increased by up to 80% in comparison to 2020 ($305 million). Over the last five years, the cumulative losses have totaled $1.3 billion.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also discovered a new pattern that began in 2021, in which romance fraudsters enticed their victims into dubious crypto currency investment schemes. In 2021, those who paid fraudsters with bit coin lost $139 million, with a $10,000 median loss. However, in 2021, the majority of victims paid scammers with gift cards.

It's not unusual for romantic scams to be on the rise. Between 2016 and 2020, the expected losses increased by $230 million, from $75 million to $305 million each year. In the United States, around 11,000 people reported online dating scams in 2016. By 2020, that number had risen to almost 32,000. If unreported instances are taken into account, these figures might be substantially higher business listings.

While dating scams are just one type of deception, the financial harm they can do is staggering. The average loss from an online dating scam is more than 10 times that of any other type of fraud, with most victims losing roughly $2,500 last year.

How to Spot an Online dating Scam

Sweetheart scams, often known as romance scams, start off like any other internet connection. Someone strikes up a conversation with you, and you begin communicating on a daily basis. The person on the other side of the computer may appear to be just like any other online buddy, but putting too much faith in someone you don't know might backfire. Here are a few red flags that your love interest isn't who they claim to be free listing:

1 - They do not have any online accounts

Some people want to keep their personal life private and avoid using social media. That is a sound decision. However, if your new love interest has no digital record at all, you should be skeptical. If you search for someone's name, email, or username, you'll usually discover something: work or university accounts, high school or local newspaper stories, petitions they've signed, and so on. However, if there isn't anything or anything doesn't add up, you should ask them about it and watch how they respond.

2 - They are just perfect

You and they both enjoy jazz. They can't wait to have a dog once they move to a bigger place because you like dogs. Do you like seafood? They create a fantastic shrimp gumbo, of course. If they become too excited every time you mention something you like, they're probably trying to appear more relatable than they actually are.

 

3 - They always look stunning

All of their images appear to have been edited, they are always posing, and they are flawless in every shot. Some people do invest a lot of work into their online image, but it's typically because it's a requirement of their employment. Posing for hours and hunting for perfect lighting every day seems impractical if your new acquaintance has a regular day job.

Getting hundreds of photos of someone is fairly easy in the age of prolific Instagram models. If you're ever suspicious, invite them to video chat with you. Just make sure you accomplish it with well-known, reliable software.

4 - Their job necessitates a lot of travel

Many people's jobs require them to travel frequently. To avoid meeting you in person, internet scammers will constantly state they live far away or are on the move. It's also simpler to explain time zones or unexpected disappearances. It gives them time to form a stronger bond with their victim without having to meet them.

5 - They want money from you

You'll begin to like someone after spending weeks or even months getting to know them, and it will appear that they like you. It's difficult to take a step back and see the big picture because of this. However, it's a massive red flag if someone you met online but never met in person asks you for money. It's almost certain that they're a con artist.

They'll tell you stories that are sad, painful, or terrifying. They may say that they have no friends or relatives who can assist them, or that they require quick assistance due to a crisis. Don't give in, examine everything they say and maintain your skepticism. If they mention Western Union, block them right away and congratulate yourself on escaping a fraudster.

Examples of Scams in the romance industry

1 - The Swindler on Tinder

One of the most intricate and well-known romantic frauds is the now-trending Simon Levies (aka the Tinder Swindler) case. After the Netflix documentary was aired, it became well recognized.

Levies found his victims on the Tinder dating app. He was obvious in his approach. After making first contact, he began dating his victim, exhibiting his phony passion and, of course, his wealth. After a while, the con artist began fabricating stories about failed transactions and his adversaries pursuing him in order to justify his need for quick cash.

Levies used Ponzi scheme techniques, spending money from new victims on existing victims and for his own purposes. He was able to take hundreds of thousands of dollars from multiple ladies, leaving them emotionally distraught and in debt.

The Tinder Swindler used several different online identities and maintained a large social media presence to flaunt his wealth and opulent lifestyle. Levies generally began his deception after a connection had been established for some time and he had acquired the confidence of his victims. He was banned from numerous major online dating apps, including Tinder, after the Netflix documentary was released.

2 - The case of Sophia and Aaron

A lady intended to buy a house with her online prospective boyfriend, whom she had never seen in person, according to another storey published by the BBC. As is customary, this phony lover convinced the victim to send him money in order to purchase a home for them to share in the future. He acquired her trust by conversing with her through the internet and fabricating a life narrative. The victim was left with a £300,000 debt in the end.

3 - Ryan Chen's case

The storey of Ryan Chen (the victim's name has been altered to protect his privacy), a member of the Chinese dating app Tantan, was revealed by The Guardian last year. Chen was paired with a beautiful British woman, so he provided her his WeChat and Facebook information. They were asked to trade naked images by the woman. Chen returned the favor after getting hers. Then she told him that until he paid her $4,000 to her Western Union account, she would send his "nudes" to all of his Facebook friends.

Chen called the cops and told a family member about his predicament. When he told the cybercriminal to go forward with it, she ceased threatening him, and the matter was handled. Extortion is a widespread online dating fraud, and this case is an example of it.

 

4 - Nigerian romance con artists

Eight Nigerian guys were involved in one of the largest dating scams, defrauding more than 100 people out of about $7 million. These romance fraudsters pretended to be widows and divorcees on online dating sites all around the world. They began to tell victims sob tales about how they needed money to pay debts, taxes, or cover transportation costs after winning their confidence and forming an emotional link with them. Of course, they vanished as soon as the victim's bank account was emptied of the necessary funds.

How to Keep Yourself Safe

Examine the webpage before registering. Before you put yourself out there, do your research, read a few reviews, and take a close look at the website. Before you even join up, it bombards you with "Hot singles in your neighborhood!" advertisements; odds are you won't find what you're searching for. It's best to avoid it and look for a trustworthy website that you can trust to keep your information safe.

Don't hand out personal information to strangers. When you think your relationship is growing serious, you could reveal certain information, such as your social media accounts. However, do not provide sensitive information such as your address or phone number. Pay attention if they start asking you security questions, such as the name of your pet, the street you grew up on, your childhood nickname, and so on. That is a valid fraudster technique to be cautious of.

Meeting together with individuals you don't trust is not a good idea. Before meeting someone, make sure they are trustworthy and honest.

To be safe, arrange for the first encounters to take place in public settings where there will be other people present. It's a red sign if someone insists on meeting somewhere far away on the first date.

Be suspicious, but polite. You don't want to jeopardize the connection by questioning everything they say, but you also need to protect yourself. Explain why you're being cautious if they're offended. A reasonable individual will be able to comprehend. A genuine con artist will be enraged and upset.

Make use of security software. Anyone who uses the internet should be aware of this. You will be safer if you have dependable antimalware software installed on your devices. A VPN, on the other hand, will give an extra degree of security to your online life by masking your true IP address and location.