Dating scammers try to steal your heart – and your money.

The rise of online dating sites and apps have made looking for love more convenient. Every day, millions of Americans turn to these resources to meet someone new. Sometimes, it’s a love match. Other times, it’s a scam.

These con artists are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable. In reality, they’re only looking to take your money and run.

Let’s look at how dating scams work, red flags to watch out for, and ways to stay safe.

How Dating Scams Work

These con artists are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable.

Here are three steps that a romance scammer may take as they try to trick you.

They Set Up a Bogus Profile

Typically, these con artists begin by setting up bogus profiles on popular dating sites and apps or on social networks. Scammers often lift photos from the web and use fake names, and some even assume the identities of real people. The scammer will then make contact with targets, striking up conversations and gaining their trust and affection.

They Tell a Good Story

Once they’ve established trust, they’ll make an emotional appeal for money. Common dating scams often come with a good story. The scammer might say:

• They got stranded in a foreign country.
• They or a family member had a sudden medical emergency.
• They need help with a complicated banking transaction or need money for a visa to enter the country, pay for a plane ticket, or pay for other travel expenses.
• They need to pay off gambling debts.
• They really want to visit you – but they need to borrow money for plane tickets.

They Ask for Money

Once the scammer has told you their story, they may want you to send payments through methods that are hard to trace, like:

• Wire transfers
• Reloadable or prepaid cards
• Gift cards from major vendors
• Cryptocurrency

In some cases, a romance scammer might send you a large amount of money and then make up a detailed story about why the money needs to be sent back or to another individual. In this scenario, the target thinks they’re helping someone they care about, but they may actually be helping a criminal launder stolen money.

Watch Out for These Red Flags

Be on the lookout for these red flags that can tip you off that you’re being scammed:

• They claim their job keeps them out of the country. Many romance scammers have assumed identities like an international physician, oil rig worker, or service member deployed overseas.
• Their profile isn’t consistent with what they’ve told you.
• Their profile seems too good to be true.
• Their profile only has a few photos.
• They don’t have social media accounts linked to their dating site accounts.
• They only call you by pet names, not your real name, and their messages are vague and impersonal – signs that they’re messaging lots of targets at once. Scammers often use automated messages, which usually sound robotic.
• They appear to fall in love right away.
• They quickly try to move your conversation away from the site you met on and onto text messages or emails – in case the website becomes aware of their scam and shuts them down.
• They repeatedly make plans to meet you in person and then cancel.
• They ask you for money or sensitive information, like your Social Security number or banking information, before you can meet face to face.

How You Can Protect Yourself

Now that you know what to look for, how can you protect yourself from a dating scam?

• Don’t send money to anyone you’ve never met in person, and don’t share your banking information – no matter what their story is.
• Do an online search for the job the person claims to have to see if other people have heard similar stories. For example: search “oil rig scammer” or “U.S. Army scammer.”
• Don’t accept money from strangers, either – they may be trying to pass fake checks or launder money through your account.
• Do a reverse image search of the person’s profile picture – if it turns out to be a stock photo or belongs to someone else, you can be sure you’re being conned.
• Don’t send compromising photos of yourself that could be used for extortion.
• Don’t keep the relationship secret – tell someone you trust. It’s easy to miss the signs of a scam, and your friends or family can give you a reality check.

What to Do if You’re a Victim of This Scam

If you’ve been the victim of a dating scam:

• Stop communicating immediately and keep a copy of all your conversations.
• Call your financial institution immediately if you’ve sent money.
• Change your online account logins. Use two-factor authentication to secure your accounts.
• If you paid a scammer with a gift card, contact the card issuer right away. Explain the situation and ask if the money can be refunded.
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at FTC.gov.
• File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
• Notify the dating site or social network.

The next time you’re on a dating site, remember these tips – and kiss scammers goodbye! To learn more about managing your finances and protecting your accounts, talk to your financial institution today.

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