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Fans of Netflix’s “Tinder Scam” may know how love scams work online, but experts warn that many of America’s loneliest hearts may fall for the scam on Valentine’s Day.
The FBI says scammers often adopt a false identity with photos of someone else on social media apps or dating websites, build trust by flattering lonely singles—especially seniors—and then steal their financial information or hit them for requests for money, gifts, and presents. fake investments
“Be careful when starting an online relationship and be aware of warning signs like requests for money or personal and financial information,” the FBI said in an emailed statement to the Washington Times on Thursday.
In 2021, 24,000 victims of Cupid scams reported to law enforcement that they lost nearly $1 billion in fraud. That comes from the $281 million victims reported lost in 2020, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaints Center.
The FBI said that because romance scams are “intensely personal,” many victims do not report them because they may feel embarrassed.
st. Therese Schachner, cybersecurity consultant at St. Louis-based internet security resource VPNBrains, said it’s important not to click photos on a suspicious lothario because they could be phishing links that install malware to gather private information from a victim’s device.
“Scammers may also post phishing links that allegedly lead to registration pages of online dating sites, which may encourage users to sign up on those sites to find their mate for Valentine’s Day,” said Ms. Schachner. “However, these links can solicit users’ personal information and send that information to scammers after users submit it, putting them at risk of identity theft and other malicious uses of their data.”
Ms Schachner said a big warning sign of romantic scams from hackers in foreign countries, which often look nothing like the photos on their profiles, are “frequent excuses to avoid video calls or face-to-face meetings.”
At this point, he said, many scammers pre-select and screen their victims online in a carefully targeted “social engineering” exercise.
“Scammers often search victims’ social media profiles and other online information about them to discover what might motivate them to click on certain links or reveal private information,” said Ms. Schachner.
Mayank Gupta, co-founder and CEO of website GetDispute.com, which helps romantic scam victims bring their complaints to the court of first instance, said victims can also change the scammer’s situation by investigating predators.
“The more information you have about a defendant’s name and address, the more likely you are to be successful in any legal action,” said Mr. Gupta. “If you know the true identity of the person who defrauded you, if a judge rules in your favor, it will go a long way in helping you recover your losses.”
Most scammers never face criminal charges, he said, forcing victims to try to get their money back through the petty claims system.
“It’s unfortunate that scammers prey on everyone, but especially in these vulnerable, innocent situations where the victim is just looking to build a relationship, a friendship and possibly more,” said Mr. Gupta. “You are emotionally vulnerable and scammers know it. That’s all the more reason to be vigilant.”
On Friday, the Better Business Bureau’s Online Fraud Tracker showed that 33 love scams have been reported in the US since Jan. The latest report came on Tuesday.
In a 2018 study of romantic scams, the BBB found that they last longer and cause more personal harm than ordinary financial scams.
“They hunt lonely people who want to connect with someone, and it can often take months for them to get to the point where money changes hands,” the BBB said in the report. “The emotional harm done to the victim can be even more painful than the monetary loss.”
Often victims are so emotionally invested in the illusion that a stranger is attracted to them that they choose perception over reality. But many Cupid scammers exploit several victims at once, shattering any privilege fantasy.
Netflix’s “Tinder Scam” documentary drama tells the story of Shimon Hayut, an Israeli-born convicted fraudster who uses dating apps to set up loans and lines of credit on behalf of multiple women. These women later took the bills for her lavish lifestyle, not realizing that she had fooled many of them.
And “Dirty John,” a viral true crime podcast series produced by Wordery and the Los Angeles Times, shows the twisted depths into which manipulative love scams—including murder—go.
But experts say that Cupid’s plans can be easily avoided if people are wary of strangers they meet online.
According to the FBI, other warning signs of love scams include: trying to communicate instantly via email or texting outside of a dating site, claiming to be a U.S. citizen living abroad, comments about “fate” or “fate”, help demands. sudden financial crises, name changes, requests for money or goods without meeting face to face.
The FBI said potential victims are best able to defend themselves by never sending money electronically, disclosing their credit or bank information, or giving their social security numbers to people they meet online. They can also limit what they share, ask lots of questions, and research the person’s profile online.
While the plans affect victims of all demographics, the FBI reports that older women are most targeted.
In addition to reporting love scams to law enforcement, the agency said victims should contact their bank about suspicious transactions and alert the social media app or website when they encounter the person.
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