MONTANA – Romance scams are costing people billions of dollars each year, leaving victims feeling betrayed and financially drained. These scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it crucial for individuals to recognize the warning signs.
Blair Smith, a public outreach coordinator, emphasized the significant financial impact of these scams. “It’s a jaw-dropping amount of money that is lost to romance scams and to a variety of scams every year,” said Smith. The Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance is working to educate the public on identifying these scams and avoiding becoming a victim.
Smith advised caution when interacting with strangers online. “Anytime that somebody reaches out to you online and you aren’t able to meet that person in person, you should be skeptical,” Smith stated. “You should always be skeptical of why is this person reaching out to me, especially if they crossed that line of trying to gain personal information.”
According to the Federal Trade Commission, reported losses to romance scams in 2023 amounted to $1.14 billion, which breaks down to approximately $2,000 per person. Senior Legal Counsel of CSI, Mark Mattioli, explained why people often fall for these scams. “People who are getting scammed don’t know that they’re getting scammed. They believe that they’re acting appropriately,” said Mattioli.
Fraud reports from the FTC indicate that nearly 66,000 fraud cases were reported in 2023, with approximately 44,000 reported so far in 2024. Detective Nathan Casey from the Helena Police Department shared insights on the demographics most targeted by scammers. “Romance scammers tend to target the middle-aged population to the older population, anyone who may be lonely or widowed, or just seeking an online relationship,” Casey said.
The advancement of AI technology has made it easier for scammers to deceive victims. “I think you could see potentially a lot of these scams, scammers using AI to mimic voices of loved ones or faces of loved ones,” Casey added. This presents a challenge for law enforcement, who are working to spread awareness on how to avoid becoming a victim.
The FBI offers several tips to protect yourself from romance scams, such as researching the person’s photo and profile using online searches, going slowly, and asking lots of questions. They also advise being cautious if the individual promises to meet in person but always cancels and to never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.
Mattioli emphasized that anyone can fall victim to these scams. Tomorrow, a woman who lost everything to another type of scam will share her story, hoping to prevent others from experiencing the same fate.
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