Globally, millions of people turn to online dating apps or social media to meet someone. In doing so, users share a wide variety of personal data. But lurking in the online shadows there are scammers ready to target the vulnerable. You may not think of yourself as vulnerable, but it’s surprising how many people get caught by the scammers. It’s simply a confidence-trick, and involves a thief pretending to be loving and affectionate to gain the confidence of the victim.
How the scammers do it…
The scammer starts slowly, building trust, making up their story but at some point, they make their move and ask for money.
They might claim to be abroad, or working on an oil rig – reasons you may not be able to meet in person.
But in fact they’re sitting in a cubicle in a ‘scam factory’ alongside teams of other thieves.
The scammer will go to great lengths to gain trust and have been known to work at a scam for months, even years. They are masterful at using language to persuade and manipulate victims to exploit them.
Once established, the criminals gently execute their sting. They ask for money to be sent: it may be so they can come and visit, or for a medical bill for a fictional sick relative, or to pay off a debt. Sometimes it’s a suggestion to make an investment in for example a foreign property, or perhaps crypto-currency.
READ MORE: ‘NEVER click on any links’: Seven indications your email or text from Royal Mail is a scam
How to spot it
Think twice before parting with…
