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Watch out for ‘sweetheart swindles’ if you’re looking for love on Valentine’s Day

More people are turning to the Internet to find Mr. or Ms. Right through online dating services, pop-up ads, or email.

Valentine's CDandy on KeyboardA mid-West Consumer Fraud Task Force warns those who use the Internet to find love that, while online dating has resulted in some successful relationships, criminals also troll the sites for victims who will send them money.

Task Force partners get thousands of complaints every year from people who have lost money to someone they met on dating sites.

Some criminals say they’re in the military and stationed overseas. Others may claim to have a sudden emergency, such as medical bills for a sick relative, or they claim they’re in need of cash because they’re stranded or behind on their bills. 

Often the “emergency” occurs after weeks or months of online chitchat, often filled with flattery that makes the victim feel as if he or she has found true love.

A woman in Washington state got a 46-month prison term for swindling an elderly doctor out of $2.2 million by faking an online romantic relationship over several years ending in 2010.

A study in the United Kingdom found that more than 200,000 people in Britain had been conned by scammers posing as potential romantic partners online. The victims lost about $379,600.

A lawsuit filed in Dallas in December 2010 claimed that more than half the profiles on a leading dating site were “inactive, fake, or fraudulent.” In some cases, the profiles link to scammers in other countries, often in Africa or Eastern Europe. For that reason, it can be difficult for law enforcement or other agencies to make arrests or recover victims’ money, the Task Force said in a statement.

The Task Force urges anyone who uses an online dating service or answers an unsolicited romantic email to be extremely cautious before committing to meet the person or send them money, tickets, or anything else of value.

Some tips and red flags to watch for include:

  • Find out whether the dating service does any background checks or fraud scans before a person’s profile is posted.
  • Be cautious if the person claims to be recently widowed or says he or she is an American stationed overseas, possibly in the military.
  • Be cautious if the person immediately asks you to communicate on an e-mail or messaging system outside the dating site. Some dating sites monitor exchanges for signs of fraud, and a fraudster may be anxious to lure you away from the site.
  • Do a Google search on the person. You can even paste the text of the e-mail, profile description, or pictures into Google and search to see if similar text, pictures, or descriptions are used by others. Some criminals create multiple profiles and use the same information over and over.
  • Be suspicious if the person hints that they’re in financial trouble or have another sudden need for money. If the person asks you to wire money – such as by Western Union, MoneyGram, or Green Dot MoneyPak – it more than likely is a scam.
  • Check the person’s name in online databases of sex offenders, which are available in many states. 
  • Go to a place where there are large numbers of people and where you feel safe, if you decide to meet the person. Consider taking someone along with you.

The Task Force is a coalition of local, state, and federal government agencies and nonprofit business and consumer groups in Missouri and Illinois that work together to protect consumers against fraud.

For information, or if you think you may be the victim of a scam, contact these Task Force members:

  • Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois – 314-645-3300; www.bbb.org.
  • Federal Trade Commission – 877-382-4357; www.ftc.gov.
Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Comments

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Lisa

How sad that scammers have gotten involved in something as personal as online dating.

Rita

Hi Lisa,

Yes, it is. However, anytime anyone you don't know very well or any company asks you to wire money to them, it's a big red flag.

On television here, they reported on a shopper scam. The consumers received a check for about $1,500. They deposited it and were to go on a shopping spree. Then keep $300 and send $1,200 back to the company. The company's check bounced, and they lost $1,200.

I was sad to watch the news spot. It's a typical scam.

Rita

airbrushaction

whoops be careful buds ! Online romance may lead you to real life disaster .. Be mindful about your relationships !

College Dating

Online dating has become a fad nowadays. A lot of people, young and old are trying their luck to have the best partner thorugh online dating sites. But they also have to know their limitations and the rules that they need to abide to avoid getting scammed by other illegitimate online dating sites.

college dating

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