COLORADO SPRINGS — In the wake of Valentine’s Day, it’s that time of year when some singles turn to dating apps or websites looking for love. Unfortunately some of the people lurking in these spaces are only looking for an opportunity to take your money. News5 has this important warning about romance scams.
For several years we’ve heard stories of people, mainly senior citizens, losing money by getting caught up in an online relationship with someone they’ve never actually met in-person.
Fast forward to today, we’re seeing a growing number of people 18 to 29 who are also falling victim to these scams and are losing hundreds of dollars in the process.
Not every online interaction is a scam, but we wanted to provide consumers with a few red flags to look out for if you’re searching for love online, so you don’t get ripped off.
“He was so into me, it was really cool and we talked for hours on the phone,” said Sam, a Colorado woman who thought she found love online.
In the classic romance scam, crooks aim to take advantage of people looking for love online in order to steal their money and personal information. The scammers chat with their victims on a dating app or social media, then spend time building their trust before asking for money.
Sam says she believes she was being groomed by a scammer who could never meet in person.
“I asked him, you know, would you like to meet, just, you know, for a quick, a quick meet in person. And he was very offended that I had suggested this,…
