HOW TO AVOID ONLINE
ROMANCE SCAMS
If you think you are being scammed
It’s well known that people online aren’t always as they appear. However, tens of thousands of internet users fall victim to online romance scams each year, and it can happen to anyone. These scams can be incredibly convincing and are increasingly found across dating sites and social media platforms. Bad actors are very good at appealing to victims’ emotions and feigning personal connections, with the intention of stealing large sums of money and personal information. Luckily, there are ways to identify a scam and protect yourself online.
KNOW YOUR THREAT MODEL
Threat modeling is a process used by IT professionals for anticipating cybersecurity threats, but it can also a helpful exercise for individuals looking to stay safe online. Ask yourself the following questions:
- How could a scammer target me?
- Why would a scammer choose to target me?
- What information could a scammer use to target me?
Share with care
Think before posting about yourself and others online. Consider what a post reveals, who might see it and how it might affect you or others. Consider creating an alternate persona that you use for online profiles to limit how much of your own personal information you share.
check account settings
Think before posting about yourself and others online. Consider what a post reveals, who might see it and how it might affect you or others. Consider creating an alternate persona that you use for online profiles to limit how much of your own personal information you share.
think before you act
Think before posting about yourself and others online. Consider what a post reveals, who might see it and how it might affect you or others. Consider creating an alternate persona that you use for online profiles to limit how much of your own personal information you share.
use reverse image search
Think before posting about yourself and others online. Consider what a post reveals, who might see it and how it might affect you or others. Consider creating an alternate persona that you use for online profiles to limit how much of your own personal information you share.
If you think you are being scammed
Scammers can be very convincing, however there are ways to identify a scammer, including, but not limited to, the following red flags:
- There’s a request for money for urgent matters, such as medical expenses or a plane ticket. Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person.
- Common forms of money requested by scammers are wire transfers or pre-loaded gift cards.
- The person claims to live far away, overseas or be in the military.
- The relationship is moving very fast.
- They break promises to see you in person.
- There’s pressure to move the conversation off the platform to a different site or text app.
DID YOU KNOW?
People who said they were ages 40 to 69 reported losing money to romance scams at the highest rates – more than twice the rate of people in their 20s. At the same time, people 70 and over reported the highest individual median losses at $10,000. (FTC)
KNOW WHAT ACTION TO TAKE
If you believe you or a loved one are the victim of a scam, it is important to take the following steps:
- Cease communications with the scammer immediately.
- Take note of any identifiable information you may have on them, such as their email address.
- Contact your bank or credit card company if you think you’ve given money to a scammer.
- File a police report.
- Report the scammer to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint and the FBI at ic3.gov.
- Notify the website or app where you met the scammer.
