Don’t Lose Money in the Name of Love
Feb 6, 2025
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Romance may be in the air, but fraudsters are always on the lookout for opportunities. Whether you’re searching for love or searching for a gift, don’t let the mushy feelings blind you to potential scams.
The best defense against fraud is awareness. Be on guard against these common romance-related tactics!
Sweetheart Scams
Sweetheart scammers create fake online profiles and use various tactics to convince you they are “real” people who develop feelings for you. They may even make promises of love and marriage. After they’ve earned your trust, they ask you to send them money to help with an emergency or for a ticket to visit you.
These scams rely on manipulating your emotions so that you don’t think things through logically.
Some common signs that your “soulmate” might be a fake include:
- The relationship very quickly becomes romantic and/or serious.
- You’ve never met them in person. They might constantly give excuses for why they can’t meet up.
- They ask for money for some kind of emergency, or for travel funds.
- You notice frequent spelling or grammar mistakes even though they claim to be American.
- They ask to move off the original site or app to communicate with you more directly.
- They ask you to send them money through methods that are hard to trace or reverse, such as gift cards or direct wires.
Not everyone you meet online is going to try to scam you, but it’s important to know how to protect yourself from the ones who will.
- Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.
- Take things slow and ask a lot of questions.
- Ask a trusted friend or relative for their thoughts about the situation.
- Never send money or give your personal information to someone you meet online, especially if you’ve only chatted via text or voice call before.
- Use your web browser to do a reverse image search on their online photo(s) to make sure they didn’t steal the images from another site or profile.
NOTE: Some scammers use generative AI tools to create a unique image for their profile. These images can be extremely difficult to identify as fake, so make sure you examine the photos closely, compare multiple photos if you can, and get a second opinion from a trusted friend.
Wrong Number Scam
Wrong number scams have been on the rise. It starts as a seemingly harmless text message under the premise that they texted your number by mistake. However, they’re trying to bait you into a conversation in order to obtain your personal information.
Keep an eye out for these red flags:
- The first text message is vague or mentions a dating site.
- The sender ignores your initial responses and doesn’t stop texting.
- The sender directs you to sign up for a website, often an adult site.
- They ask for your personal information.
The best way to avoid a wrong number scam is simple: don’t respond. Delete the message – and never click on links in unsolicited text messages.
Fake Merchants and Dating Sites
Maybe you’re on the lookout for a great deal on some jewelry for your partner. Maybe you lost track of time and are in a rush to order a flower delivery. Or maybe you’re desperate to find love.
Scammers create fraudulent websites to take advantage of these scenarios, all with the goal of stealing your credit card or other personal information. They might build an online store or dating site that looks legitimate, or they might open a shop in an online marketplace such as Etsy.
Watch out for these warning signs that the site you’re visiting isn’t legitimate:
- Products or services are offered at unrealistically deep discounts.
- The seller requests payment by cash transfer apps or cryptocurrency.
- Photos and graphics are inconsistent or low quality, suggesting they were lifted from other sites or shops.
Guard your money this Valentine’s Day with these easy tips:
- Stick to businesses and merchants you trust.
- Look up ratings and reviews for the site or merchant.
- Don’t trust deals that seem too good to be true.
- Double check the web address before entering any personal information.
- Get a second opinion from a friend.
If You Encounter a Scam…
If you suspect you’re talking to a scammer, end all communication with the person. Report your experience to the Better Business Bureau, the FTC and/or the website itself if you encountered it on a dating site or online marketplace. If you gave them credit card information or money, contact your card carrier and financial institution right away to cancel or possibly undo the transaction.
Further Reading:
https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/26500-bbb-scam-alert-top-valentines-day-scams
