Romance scams. When someone builds a fraudulent, often romantic relationship with an unsuspecting victim online. Perpetrators play to the emotions of their victim in hopes of extorting money, gifts, or personal information.
According to the non-profit Society of Citizens Against Romance Scams (SCARS), in 2016, 1 million individuals fell victims to romance scams losing more than $35 billion
Take precautions when using social media and dating websites. Some red flags include:
- Consistently poor grammar and/or spelling
- Their message is two or three paragraphs long – unusual for initial contact
- Their profile images appear to be magazine quality or inconsistent
If you suspect you or a loved one have fallen prey to a romance scam, SCARS’ partner websites can assist: you can report the scammer at AnyScam and seek counseling or education from Romance Scams Now.
