Met someone new online…but you still haven’t met in person? With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s a great time to make sure you know how to recognize a romance scam.
Romance scams can happen to anyone. And with the help of AI and other tech, they might not be so easy to spot. AI or not, here are some signs you’re dealing with a scammer:
- Scammers say they can’t meet you in person. They might say they’re in the military, doing business overseas, or working on an oil rig. Or they might make plans to meet — but always need to cancel.
- Scammers ask you for money. They might contact you every day and talk about everything under the sun. But eventually, they’ll ask for money — maybe for a medical emergency, tickets to visit you, or some other issue.
- Scammers will tell you how to pay. Scammers ask you to send money in a way that makes it hard for you to get it back — wiring money through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram, putting money on a gift card and giving them the numbers on the back, sending money through a payment app, or transferring cryptocurrency.
So, what can you do if you suspect a romance scam?
- Cut off contact and talk to someone you trust. Are they concerned, too?
- Search online for the person’s type of job, plus the word “scammer.” Have other people posted similar stories?
- Do a reverse image search of the person’s profile picture. Is it associated with another name, or with details that don’t match up? Those are signs of a scam.
Read What You Need To Know About Romance Scams for more.
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