Normally we talk about romance scams close to Valentine’s Day, but they happen year round. Lately, there has been a huge uptick in such scams. The FBI says a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. FBI Special Agent Christine Benning:
Some tips: beware if the individual seems too perfect, or requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.
Beware if the individual promises to meet in person but then always comes up with an excuse why he or she can’t. If you haven’t met the person after a few months, for whatever reason, you have good reason to be suspicious.
And, most importantly, never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.
