Kathleen Stokes, the AARP Director of Fraud Prevention programs answers your questions about romance scams.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Scammers are everywhere these days. No matter where you go, a scammer seems to be there waiting for you.
This time of year, you really have to watch out for romance scams. They can happen at any time, but especially now with Valentine’s Day coming up.
2 Wants to Know spoke with Kathleen Stokes, the AARP Director of Fraud Prevention programs, to get tricks on how to protect yourself.
Romance Scams
Online romance scams don’t just happen around Valentine’s Day, but for anyone looking to engage with a dating site or app, be aware of the fraud that is being perpetrated
Reported losses were $75 million in 2016 and $304 million in 2020. Older people fall victim to the scams more often. The FTC said the median loss for someone over 70 is $9,500.
Romance scams happen on several platforms, including social media and gaming websites where people may not even be looking for love.
Red Flags
Stokes said to watch out for the following red flags:
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