Understanding Romance Scam: Protect Yourself

What is Romance Scam ?

A Romance Scam is a type of confidence trick where a scammer creates a fake online identity to gain a victim's affection and trust. Then the scammer siphons off your money some way or the other. The Romance Scam is far too big. Read this article carefully and watch the videos to understand. Don't Fall for it and lose all your life's savings to Romance Scammer. Over 4.6 Billion US Dollars lost to Romance Scam.

This investigative video documentary exposes the online romance scams that target unsuspecting victims and con them out of their life savings

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How Romance Scams Work

A romance scam is a type of confidence trick where a scammer creates a fake online identity to gain a victim's affection and trust. Here's a detailed breakdown of how these scams typically work:

1. Creating a Fake Profile by Romance Scammer: In Romance Scam, the Scammer creates fake profiles on Dating Websites, Social Media platforms, or other online forums. They often use stolen photos and create elaborate backstories to appear genuine.

2. Romance Scammer Builds Trust: The Romance Scam, the scammer initiates contact and starts building a relationship with the victim. They may communicate frequently, share personal stories, and express strong emotions to create a sense of intimacy and trust.

3. Romance Scammer Creates a Crisis: Once trust is established in the Romance Scam, the scammer introduces a problem or crisis that requires financial assistance. This could be a medical emergency, a legal issue, or a travel expense.

4. Romance Scammer Request You Money: The Romance Scam, the scammer asks you for money, often through untraceable methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. They may make multiple requests over time, each with a more urgent reason.

5. Romance Scammer Isolates You: In Romance Scam, the scammers often try to isolate their victims from friends and family by discouraging them from sharing your relationship with the Romance Scammer with others. This makes it easier for the scammer to manipulate the victim without outside interference.

6. Avoiding In-Person Meetings with You: The Romance Scam, the scammers frequently come up with excuses to avoid meeting in person, such as being overseas for work or being in the military. They may promise to meet eventually but always find reasons to delay.

In this video, Bonnie Libheart has formed virtual relationship with three men over the last eight year, sending pictures back and forth, praying together, and talking about a life together. But all three men lived overseas and started asking for money months into the relationship. Listen in her own words.

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Warning Signs of Romance Scam

• Too Good to Be True:    If the person seems perfect and if the relationship progresses very quickly, it might be a Romance scam.

• Requests for Money:    Be cautious if the person asks for money, especially early in the relationship, identify it as Romance Scam.

• Avoids Video Calls or In-Person Meetings:    Scammers often avoid video calls or meeting in person. This should warn you that you are in a Romance Scam.

• Inconsistent Stories:    Pay attention to inconsistencies in their stories or details about their life and realize that you are falling into a Romance Scam.

• Pressure Tactics:    Scammers use pressure tactics to get you to send money quickly. If you send money, they you are already a victim of Romance Scam.

In this Video, Ex-Romance Scammer shares tactics on how to lure women in Romance Scam.

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Money Lost to Romance Scam

In a recent survey of Money Lost in Romance Scam, it came to light that over $1 billion was lost in 2021 to Romance Scam. The money lost to Romance Scam stood at $3.3 billion in 2022 and $4.6 billion in 2023. About 10% Romance Scam victims had lost $10,000 or more. About 3% Romance Scam Victims lost money in 6 figures. About 22% Romance Scam victims lost up to $1000 or more. About 5% Romance Scam victims lost $200 to $999. About 7% Romance Scam victims lost between $1,000 to $9,999 and another 3% romance scam victims reported a loss of money less than $200.

The reality is different and mind boggling financial losses. It doesn't come out due to the social stigma or reporting a financial loss to a fraud online. However, things are changing and there does appear to be a larger portion of romance scam targets willing to speak out than in the past.

Romance Scam Protecting Yourself

• Verify Identities: Use reverse image searches to check if the photos are stolen from elsewhere.

• Go Slow: Take your time getting to know someone and avoid sharing personal or financial information too soon. Scammers tend to rush, building rapport with their victims as quickly as possible before moving in for the money-themed kill.

• Meet in Person: Insist on meeting in person if the relationship seems serious.

• Report Suspicious Activity: Report any suspicious activity to the dating platform and authorities.

• Never Give Money: Never give money to anyone you’ve met in person.

• Don't Give Any Sensitive Information: Don’t give scammers the information they need. Scammers rely on what you volunteer about yourself online to tweak their script and lure you in. Use tools such as the Malwarebytes_Personal_Data_Remover to minimize the amount of data accessible through search engine results, spam lists, and people search sites.

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