What Are Online Dating Scams?

Online dating scams occur when scammers create fake profiles on dating platforms or social media to establish romantic connections with victims. Their ultimate long term goal is to exploit the victim’s trust for financial gain or other malicious purposes.

How Do They Work?

Scammers typically:

• Create fake profiles with stolen photos and fabricated details.
• Build emotional connections over time to gain trust.
• Claim to have an emergency or financial hardship and request money from the victim.
• Insist on communicating outside of the dating platform to avoid detection.

Examples of Online Dating Scams

Online dating scams exploit the emotions of victims to steal money or personal information. Below are common examples of how these scams work:

• Military Romance Scams: A scammer may pose as a soldier stationed overseas and develop a romantic relationship with the victim. After gaining their trust, the scammer requests money for a fabricated emergency, such as medical bills or travel expenses to meet in person.
• Fake Professional Scams: Another common scenario involves a scammer pretending to be a successful professional working abroad. They claim their bank accounts are temporarily inaccessible and ask the victim to send money as a loan.
• Emergency Requests: A scammer may pretend to be in a dangerous situation or facing a financial emergency, such as being stranded abroad or needing medical treatment, and ask the victim for money to resolve the issue.
• Lost Passport Scams: Some scammers claim to have lost their passport or identification while traveling and need money to return home. They often emphasize the urgency of the situation to pressure the victim into sending money quickly.
• Business Opportunity Scams: A scammer may claim they want to start a business together and ask for money to cover supposed business expenses or legal fees, all while maintaining a romantic relationship with the victim.

How to Avoid Online Dating Scams

• Be cautious of individuals who profess love quickly.
• Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person.
• Verify the person’s identity through video calls or other means.
• Report suspicious profiles to the platform immediately.
• Be skeptical of stories involving financial emergencies or urgent requests for help.

Category

Online Scam