Romance scams are where a scammer poses as somebody who is romantically involved with the victim on the internet. They gradually build up the trust and attraction that the victim feels for them to the point where victims may send them money.
This is often a clever deception where the scammer claims that they are often in some faraway country and need the victim to pay their travel expenses so they can come to visit.
If they get sent money, they will typically discontinue communication with the victim and make off with their ill-gotten gains. Romance scams don’t just cause financial pain to victims; they can often cause significant emotional damage to victims as they may have fallen in love with somebody who does not exist.
Ensure That There Are No Red Flags In Their Photos
Scammers involved in romance scams often use photos of attractive individuals that they have found on the internet to increase their chances of finding victims. It is also important to look carefully at these photos and decide if the person in the photo looks too good to be true.
These days, with the rise of AI, it is increasingly easy for scammers to convolute AI-generated images of extremely attractive people. You should ask yourself if you have ever seen a person in real life that looks like that; if not, it is AI-generated. Photos could also be photoshopped, which may not be an accurate representation of the person you are speaking to.
To stay ahead of the scammers, there are a few precautions you can take, including:
Googling Reverse Image Search
You can upload images onto a reverse image search website that will be able to find the websites where that photo features.
This means that if you are speaking to someone on a dating website who claims that they are the person in the photo, but you then find out that the photo is a commonly used internet stock photo, chances are that it is a fake profile.
Ask to Meet Them
By meeting the person that you are speaking to online in person, you can confirm that they are who they say they are and move further in the relationship.
Romance scammers will always make excuses as to why they cannot meet you because they are not who they say they are. You should ask your online spark when is a good time and place for them to meet that is convenient for both of you; this way, they will have confirmed that they will be able to attend the location.
Video Calls
Video calls are more difficult to fake than photos; you should ask the person you are speaking to talk on a video call. This not only helps ensure that they are who they say they are but it can also give you a sense of the vibe you both have when speaking verbally.
Just Because it’s New Doesn’t Mean it’s Good
We’ve all had that friend, or that one romantic experience where you’re lonely and want to get yourself out there, so while looking online on dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge or Bumble, the excitement or matches and some new people put the blinders on.
Expanding on the topic above, looking for red flags, you might not always be able to spot them straight away and if they are avoiding new pictures or video calls, it doesn’t always mean that instead of Jessica, 24, it's a middle-aged man behind the screen, but catfishing in the sense they don’t look as good or chizzled as they did in the pictures.
Take real-life examples from other experiences to make sure you confirm all aspects of their so-called appearance and life. The Tinder swindler managed to do this to multiple women, and while it looks shiny, new, and exciting, you can’t always take things at face value and do some digging.
It’s sometimes so hard to think that this new exciting thing happening could be all a lie and ploy to exploit you, but women and men need to have their guard up until they have met and made a real-life opinion of someone.
They Are Always Travelling Or Live Too Far Away
Online scammers often claim that they are enthusiastic about meeting you, but when it comes to actually meeting you, something goes wrong in their life and they are unable to meet you. They may say something like their car has broken down or their plane ticket is not valid for some reason. They then say they need you to send them money so that they can fix the problems in their lives and meet you.
Victims of this scam may feel they can finally meet the person they have fallen for; however, the scammer will just pocket the cash and cease communication with the victim. You should set a reasonable deadline for when you expect to meet the other person. If this deadline passes, you should pursue other people instead.
If It’s Too Good To Be True
We’ve all heard this famous saying, and more often than not, it is true. If they are trying to sell you a glamorous lifestyle or feeding you empty promises with nothing physical to show for it, take it with a grain of salt.
I am a believer that in most cases, “if they wanted to, they would,” and it is all bark, no bite. This could be their way of opening you up and bringing down your walls. Another example is given proudly by the Tinder swindler: he promised these women trips and constantly spoke about his success, but would ask to “borrow” money.
A new relationship should never be transactional like this, while it is nice to help out a friend who is not yet a friend. It might help to see it as, How well do I know this person? Have I met their friends and family? Have any of the promises they have made been fulfilled? If you can’t answer these questions with a yes, then you shouldn’t be sending them anything and should avoid the scam.
They Quickly Tell You That They “Love You”
Romance scammers often use a technique called love bombing, which involves the scammer professing their love to the victim, often claiming that they are destined to be together. This is all designed to make the victim feel special and to increase the attraction that the victim feels towards the scammer.
You should be very cautious of people who do this too early after starting to communicate with you, particularly if you have not even met in person. In some cases, scammers even propose marriage to victims online to create excitement.
Love bombing is never a good thing whether they are out for your money or not. It’s another thing that can put the blinders on and as harsh as it sounds, they just want to get all your guards down. If they loved you, then they’d make the effort to come to see you in real life and wouldn’t be asking for money off of you so early in the "relationship.”.
They can use this to delay meeting the victims, claiming that they only want to meet on the day of the marriage. They can then ask the victim to not only pay towards the scammer's transportation costs but also send money over to do with wedding planning. This can result in victims sending over thousands of pounds in some cases.
AI and Virtual Models
The digital landscape is expanding, from virtual models to fashionista robots and a special mention goes to the animated humans that are taking popular platforms by storm. Romance scamming doesn’t just happen on dating apps; it also happens on the TV show Catfish, showing that this can happen on all kinds of platforms, from Facebook to Tinder.
With these new developments in technology happening, you need to be aware that AI influencers may be used to exploit others. Make sure you verify that the person you are talking to is an actual, real person.
What To Do If You Have Been Scammed
If you suspect you have been scammed, you should cease all communication with the suspected scammer immediately. You should then report them to the dating website. If you have sent money to the person you suspect to be a scammer, you should contact your bank as soon as possible, as they may be able to reverse the transaction.
Try and stay calm in this situation; although it might be heartbreaking, it is not going to do any good acting out of emotion but make sure you gather all your evidence and report.
You should then contact local authorities in your area for them to start an investigation into the incident, which may lead to them prosecuting the scammer and helping you get your money back. Additionally, you can contact an investment fraud lawyer who will be able to advise you on the legal parameters involved with recovering money from scammers.
Conclusion
Romance scams can inflict financial and emotional devastation, preying on trust and affection to manipulate victims into sending money. To protect yourself, scrutinise photos for inconsistencies and use reverse image searches. Insist on video calls and face-to-face meetings to verify identities. Stay vigilant for red flags like constant excuses, overly glamorous promises, or love bombing.
Remember, if it seems too perfect or moves too quickly, it might not be genuine. Real connections develop over time and through genuine interactions. If you suspect a scam, cut off communication, report the individual, and contact authorities immediately. Seeking legal advice might also help recover any lost funds. Being cautious might seem cynical, but it’s crucial to safeguard yourself against potential exploitation.
