Last week was National Consumer Protection Week and Kansas Attorney Genera, Derek Schmidt, put out a series on the top five scams reported i Kansas in 2021. Today, we highlight “Sweetheart” or “Romance” Scams. The scam works like this: a new love interest tricks you into falling for them, when really all they want is your money. They almost always start online. Frontier Extension District Agent, Janae McNalley, says you may receive a friend request or even a direct message from the scammer:
They may ask for money for airline tickets to travel to Kansas, funds to pay for customs for items for the victim, or other sums of money related to travel plans. In reality, the scammer has no intention of coming to Kansas, just gaining access to the victim’s money and perhaps even personal information that could result in identity theft and other serious issues.
