TEXAS — Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and it’s the most romantic time of the year, but those euphoric feelings can turn to dread and sorrow if you’re not careful.
Romance scams, unfortunately, are big business in the U.S. In fact, according to online security website Comparitech, it’s estimated Americans will lose more than $800 million to such scams in 2022.
The website additionally identifies Texas as one of the worst states for the crime, with 8,111 romance scams costing people $65.9 million in 2021 alone.
So what is a romance scam? According to the FBI, it occurs when “a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim.”
Basically, it’s a con, and the traps are set on dating sites and social media. The scammers will attempt to establish a relationship as quickly as possible and may even make plans to meet in person or propose marriage. That will never happen, however. The scammer will ask for money.
The FBI further says the scammers will often identify themselves as being in the building and construction industry and claim to frequently work outside of the U.S., which gives them a good excuse for putting off an in-person meeting.
If someone claims to need your bank account information in order to make a deposit, it will almost certainly involve theft and fraud.
So what can you do? The FBI recommends:
- Be careful what you post and make public online. Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
- Research the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.
- Go slowly and ask lots of questions.
- Beware if the individual seems too perfect or quickly asks you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.
- Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family or requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.
- Beware if the individual promises to meet in person but then always comes up with an excuse why he or she can’t. If you haven’t met the person after a few months, for whatever reason, you have good reason to be suspicious.
- Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.
