Romance scams: How to avoid becoming the victim of an online 'Sweetheart Swindle'
Americans lost nearly $1 billion to romance scams in 2021, according to the FBI, and the cyber attacks often peak around Valentine's Day.
In a new study by Social Catfish, a company that verifies online identities with reverse image searches, Indiana was ranked the 24th Most "Catfished State" in America based on the latest federal data. The study found 369 victims in the state lost $8.9 million in 2021 — an average of more than $24,000 per person.
'Sweetheart swindles': Romance scams rake in up to $1B per year
"Unfortunately, it's really profitable, and it's really common," said Herbert J. Stapleton, special agent in charge at the FBI office in Indianapolis.
He said one of the most effective ways to curb scams is to approach online relationships with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Here are three tips from Social Catfish indicating a potential romance scam and how to avoid becoming a victim:
Your new love interest seems too good to be true
Scammers steal photos of very attractive and successful-looking people and create fake online accounts to lure you in. If suddenly, a handsome billionaire or a gorgeous model falls into your lap, it should be approached with healthy skepticism. Fairy tales do happen, but why not do some simple vetting?
How to Avoid: Perform a reverse image search to see if their picture matches their name. If the photo is used on many dating apps using different names, it is a scam.
They fall in love without ever meeting in person
Regardless of how strong your online chat game is, it is unlikely someone will genuinely fall in love without spending time with you. To find out for sure you must take the relationship to the next level by video chatting and meeting in person. Scammers come up with reasons why they cannot do either.
How to Avoid: Stop communicating with anyone who will not meet or video chat in a reasonable amount of time.
They ask for money, crypto or gift cards
The biggest red flag of all is when a person whom you have never met starts asking for money. Frequent reasons include problems with the bank account, medical emergencies or they need the money so they can come visit you. Scammers like to be paid with gift cards or bitcoin as this is harder for authorities to trace.
How to Avoid: This one is simple and foolproof. Never give money to anyone you meet online.
BBB identifies the ultimate goal of scams: Money
The Better Business Bureau Serving Central Indiana also issued a Valentine's Day warning:
"Romance scammers often target vulnerable people who have experienced a recent breakup or other hardship. They take advantage of that heartbreak to establish a connection and gain sympathy. Once they’ve gotten their victim on the hook with a sad story, they begin pursuing their true goal — money."
Check out more online dating safety tips from the BBB.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How to avoid becoming a victim of an online romance scam
