Advertisements
Have you ever heard of the “love scam”? This is an elaborate form of financial fraud in which the scammer gains the victim’s trust through a virtual romantic relationship. The relationship may begin through dating apps or social media.
This type of scam is more complex than most others because of the emotional manipulation involved. After engaging the target, the criminal begins to take advantage of their passion by asking for money and gifts.
How to identify a love scam
It is not always easy to identify scam attempts of this nature. This is because, in fact, with the increasing use of social networks, many legitimate relationships are built within the internet environment. However, be aware of some signs listed by the cybersecurity website Kaspersky.
Advertisements
One “symptom” of a love scam is feelings that blossom too quickly. Be wary if your new contact starts showing too much passion too early or too much too quickly.
Another sign that should raise suspicion is a reluctance to send photos or videos. In many cases, these scammers present themselves with fake photos and refuse to make phone calls or video calls. Also be wary of anyone who makes excuses not to meet in person.
Advertisements
What does the scammer want from the victim?
As mentioned earlier, the scammer’s goal is to take financial advantage of you. They may come up with excuses to get you to send them certain amounts of money. These excuses vary, but can include “emergencies,” “paying bills,” and the like.
If you suspect that you are in contact with a scammer, the general recommendation is to end contact completely. If you have been financially harmed, gather evidence and contact a lawyer to file a police report.
Image: Freepik
