In fact, it may not even be an actual person.
“The criminals who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do.”
Online dating and connecting through apps is more the norm than the exception.
It’s never anyone reachable.
But once they cash in, the scammer and the victim’s dollars will just disappear.
Of those who lost money, the average amount was $1,985.
As the cliche goes, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Tips for avoiding romance scams
Be skeptical of unsolicited email, text or social media messages.
This includes celebrities.There’s no way to know who the people behind them actually are.
If it’s not from their verified account, then it’s not really them.
And even if it is, they’ve likely been hacked.
Stick to your dating app.Dating apps don’t like scammersbecause they’re bad for their reputations.
So they have algorithms and other safeguards in place that are designed to spot scammy behavior.
Be wary if someone wants to move your communications to an outside messaging app like WhatsApp or Signal.
And confirm that you’re using a reputable dating app.
Protect your private data.Never send personal information like your Social Security number.
The same goes for the keys to yourcryptocurrency wallets.
If someone asks for naked or otherwise explicit photos, say no.
While you’re at it, do a reverse image search of your potential date’s photo.
If it pops up in other places under a different name, steer clear.
