BOISE, ID. — The Idaho Department of Finance wants you to be safe out on the web.
Officials are warning consumers to look out for romance scams as more people are reporting them across North America. According to 2022 data from the Federal Trade Commission, in 2021, people lost $547 million to romance scams, including catfishing scams.
Scammers normally set up a fake user profile after researching the target’s interests, relationships and contacts, making them look credible and trustworthy. After “creating a relationship,” the scammer will then look to take money from the victim or use them for other financial harm. Some romance scams can also lead to other forms of fraud.
“Perpetrators of romance scams are particularly deceitful as they seek to prey on the vulnerabilities of individuals seeking genuine companionship,” said Patricia Perkins, Director of the Idaho Department of Finance. “A general awareness of the red flags associated with these scams may aid Idaho consumers in protecting themselves and their loved ones from falling victim.”
Here are some ways the Idaho Department of Defense says you can protect yourself from these scams.
Don’t trust, verify!
Do online searches to get a better idea of who the person you are dealing with is and what they do. Most…
