QUINCY (WGEM) – Valentine’s Day is around the corner and many people may be in search of a date. Online dating has become a reliable option for many, but the Springfield FBI wants to push out an important message about romance scams.
In this scam, a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust under the guise of a romantic relationship.
“These perpetrators are very very savvy at what they do,” said Karen Marinos, assistant special agent for Springfield FBI. “And they can actually research their victims online now through social media.”
Marinos said in 2023, victims lost more than $650 million to romance scams. $19 million of those dollars within the state of Illinois.
“These people are awful individuals who do not care about ruining the lives of their victims,” Marinos said. “Just to steal every penny they can from them even if it is their live savings or retirement savings.”
They’re lurking everywhere: dating websites, apps, chat rooms and social networking sites.
“They will do things to persuade them that they’re real,” Marinos said. “Sometimes that is talking on the phone, sometimes it’s sending poetry or flowers or gifts to the person.”
Quincy Area Better Business Bureau Regional Director Don O’Brien said it recently happened to a Clark County resident who lost $30,000 to a woman he was talking with online.
“The victim here started doing certain acts of the person on the other end,” O’Brien said. “And made sure she promised to do things and she wouldn’t do them.”
O’Brien said romance scams often go unreported.
“There’s a financial loss and an emotional loss,” O’Brien said.
Springfield FBI has a list of red flags to watch out for if you suspect you’re dealing with an impersonator.
- The individual sends you a photo that looks like a glamour shot out of a magazine.
- The individual professes love quickly.
- The individual tries to isolate you from friends and family.
- The individual claims to be working and living far away.
- Plans made to visit you always cancel because of an emergency.
- You are asked to send money, personal and financial information, items of value, or to launder money.
- The individual uses stories of severe life circumstances, tragedies, deaths in the family, injuries to themselves, or other hardships to keep their victims concerned
- A claim they have knowledge of cryptocurrency investments or trading opportunities that will result in substantial profits.
FBI Springfield also has tips to avoid becoming a victim:
- Go slow and ask questions
- If you suspect an online relationship is a scam, stop all contact immediately.
- Never send money to someone you met online and have not met in person.
- Never share your Social Security number or other personally identifiable information.
- Research the individual’s picture and profile using other online search tools.
The FBI encourages anyone who has been victimized by this fraud or unsuccessfully targeted to contact FBI Springfield at 217-522-9675 and file a complaint with the FBI’s IC3.
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