Online dating scams are a growing concern for individuals who use dating websites and dating apps to find prospective partners. These scams can be financially and emotionally devastating for the victim, and they can also be difficult to detect. In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of online dating scams, how to spot them, and what you can do to protect yourself.
Almost all romance scams begin online, on dating sites/apps or sometimes chat rooms. It is common for the scammer to want to move the conversation away from the original dating site quite quickly. They may say that they only want to speak with you and delete their account in the first few days of speaking.
Usually, the scammer will build a relationship for a few weeks before mentioning money. They will find common interests as you and try to make you feel comfortable speaking with them about more sensitive topics. Often, they will say that they have been through the same or similar experiences as you to create the illusion of common ground in an attempt to gain your trust and affection.
It is common that these scammers have jobs working away from their home. Some examples of these are:
Doctors or medical personnel typically working in war zones or travelling a lot
Soldiers in the army, also serving in a war zone
Business People travelling to different countries for work
The scammer will have orchestrated a scenario that may seem very believable. They may send you pictures of them in uniform, discuss sensitive information about their job or even send you pictures of their ID in an attempt to confirm their story. The scammer may also bring other characters into your conversations which may also make it more convincing, this could be a child of theirs or a parent. They will use these characters to corroborate the reasons behind asking you to send money.
In other cases, some other characters that get involved tell you they are solicitors, the authorities, customs or even delivery/shipping companies who require you to pay bills on behalf of the person you are speaking to.
Often, they will make promises that they will be able to provide or care for you when you are together. This could also be used as an excuse for asking for more money.
Another common theme we see in these scams is when they ask for money to help them receive an inheritance that they are due. They may suggest that they are required to pay fees for a will or release fees for the inheritance to be handed over to them.
Sometimes the scammers will pose as a celebrity. The scammer will track stories of said celebrity and tell you what they are doing. This can then be researched by you online, which makes the story seem more believable.
So, how do you check if it is SAFE or a SCAM?
Here is a summary of the red flags to look out for if you are speaking with someone who you have met online:
🚩The person is unwilling to meet in person, video chat or send regular photos
🚩The person’s profile or photos seem too good to be true
🚩The person asks for money, or puts pressure on your for money by telling you about emergency situations they need your help getting them out of
🚩The scammer is asking for steam cards or gift cards
🚩The person is always available to chat, even at odd hours
🚩They say they are a celebrity but they are asking you for money
🚩They say their bank is blocked and can’t access funds. They may send you ‘proof’ of what is in their bank to show they can pay you back when they have access to their bank again
🚩They may bring in other characters in an attempt to show it is genuine – like speaking to a parent or work colleague who will confirm the scammers story
🚩They require you to pay a fee to release them from the Militar
