The last several weeks have seen a huge increase in romance scam reports. The Federal Trade Commission has issued another warning about these scams that stole billions of dollars from victims last year. The scam is built on emotions, and it all starts with someone contacting you – seemingly at random – on social media. But they’ve done their homework on you, checking out your profile and other information. These scammers often target widows and widowers. They say all the right things to build a relationship and start professing their love and affection very quickly. Before you know it, your new friend is talking money. ABC’s Alexis Christoforous with some romance scam red flags to look for:
The FBI estimates that nearly 73,000 people fell victim to romance scams in 2023, with a loss of over $1.3 billion. People age 51 to 56 accounted for nearly half of the money lost to the scams.
If you know someone who recently lost their spouse or a long-time love interest, talk to them. Find out what they’re doing online and who they may be talking to.
