As the 14th of February approaches, millions of people around the world are getting ready to celebrate love. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are also preparing their sinister schemes.
With an increase in people finding connections via social media and dating websites, online Valentine’s Day scams have become a widespread threat. Police report an increase in online romance scams this time of year, with fraudsters creating fake profile to prey on vulnerable individuals who are seeking love and companionship. These scammers may spend weeks or even months gaining trust before exploiting the victim for money.
Below are some of the tactics that are used by scammers and our essential top tips for keeping yourself protected:
Common tactics used by scammers
- Fake profile creation: This is where scammers create elaborate profiles using stolen photos and content from a victim’s real profile in an attempt to appear genuine and appealing.
- Emotional manipulation: Once a connection is established and a relationship is made scammers will then use emotional manipulation to exploit their victims. Often playing on feelings, creating a sense of urgency and desperation.
- Financial requests: After trust has formed, scammers will then invent a crisis, such as a medical emergency or financial hardship, to request money from victims.
What are the warning signs to look for?
It is extremely important to be vigilant and look out for common signs of scams to protect yourself and your family. These can include:
- Being too good to be true: If a new online acquaintance seems too perfect, be cautious. Scammers often present an idealised version of themselves to lure victims.
- Reluctance to meet in person: Scammers will often avoid face-to-face meetings or make excuses for not being able to meet in person.
- A quick declaration of love: Always be wary of individuals who profess love or deep feelings unusually quickly online, especially if you’ve never met in real life
- Little information: As scammers often use stolen identities it’s likely you won’t be able to verify them online or find them on other platforms such as LinkedIn, X or websites where they say they work.
- Questioning your commitment: Fraudsters may ask you to prove your commitment by giving them personal information or helping them in some way, often financially.
- Asking too many questions: If a new friend is asking a lot of questions, like your birthday, pet’s name or street you grew up, they could be working out your security question answers.
How can I protect myself?
- Always verify their identity: Use reverse image searches or Google search their full name and location to verify the authenticity of the person’s profile pictures and information.
- Never send money: Always avoid sending money to someone you’ve only met online, especially if they make urgent or unwelcome financial requests.
- Always report suspicious activity: If you suspect someone is trying to scam you, report their profile to the platform administrators and stop communication immediately.
- Change your passwords: If you’ve given out any personal information change your passwords immediately. Especially if you use the same password for various accounts.
- Ask lots of questions: Ingenuine people will find it difficult to keep up with the lie and it will help you catch them out. A real match will understand you being cautious.
While love may be in the air during the Valentine’s season, so are the risks of falling victim to online scams. Stay vigilant and trust your instincts. By being aware of the common tactics employed by scammers and following essential safety measures, you can celebrate Valentine’s Day with the genuine love you deserve. Remember, Cupid’s arrows are meant for the heart, not the wallet.
