Identity theft and fraud protection for your finances, personal info, and devices. You deserve to find companionship safely β online and in-person. Online dating scams β also known as romance scams β are imposter scams in which criminals use dating sites, apps, or social media to trick you into giving them money or sensitive information such as your account passwords or Social Security number SSN.
Most romance scams follow a similar pattern to other types of online scams. Of all the scams that use social engineering , online dating fraud can be the most devastating. The victim is not only left in potential financial ruin and at risk of identity theft β but also heartbroken and deflated. The pandemic has led to an increase in online dating scams as more people look to build connections on sites and apps.
The term originated from a film and subsequent MTV reality show called Catfish, based on people who built online relationships but never met in person. The motivation behind a catfishing scheme can vary. Others are only trying to cause emotional harm and will even continue the romance scam for months or years.
This is what makes these types of scams so dangerous and difficult to recognize. After that, Robert followed the same pattern as other online dating scammers. In almost every case, someone asking you for money before meeting in person is a warning sign of a scam. Luckily, Yvonne saw the warning signs and broke off the relationship. These intimate activity scams typically start with the sextortionist befriending victims on social media sites like Snapchat. The scammer will claim to be living abroad but still wanting to pursue an intense courtship.
The best approach is to assume that anything you say or share online could be shown to your closest family members.
