There have been quite a few people in our area – that have been victims of Romance Fraud.
Yesterday marked the start of international fraud awareness week, and we want to make you aware of some of our most “frequent frauds” to help keep you and your loved ones safe from the scammers.
Every day this week, at 9am, we will send you details of a different fraud and how to prevent yourself falling victim.
First up, romance fraud
It might not be Valentine’s Day just yet, but people look for love all year round, and when they do, they often turn to online dating. Sadly, romance fraudsters can always be relied upon to ruin the fun. Dating and romance scammers build a bond with someone online, leading the victim to believe they are in a real relationship, before asking for money, usually for an emotive reason.
Prevention:
- Never send money to someone you haven’t met
- Always use trusted dating sites to speak with a new love interest and be wary of anyone who wants to take the conversation away from the platform too quickly
- Beware of the use of fake photos and videos – the person you are talking to or looking at may not be who they say they are.
A quick Google reverse image search will show you if their profile picture has been used before
For more advice about all kinds of fraud, visit our website.
