WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) – Finding love online is fairly common these days, however, the Better Business Bureau said romance scams are too.
BBB officials have recently spoken to victims with hundreds of thousands in losses and want to warn singles to know the signs of catfishing. It is defined as luring someone into a relationship using a fake online persona.
The BBB is warning the public of anyone who:
- Asks to talk or chat on an outside email or messaging service – this reportedly allows fraudsters to carry out scams without the dating site having a record of the encounter
- Almost immediately declares love for you without meeting you or even knowing much about you
- Claims to be from this country but is currently traveling, living or working abroad – scammers come up with all kinds of excuses as to why they can’t meet in person just yet
- Asks you for money or credit card information
In some cases, the scammer will claim an emergency like a sick relative or stolen wallet, and will ask you to wire them money. They may also ask for airfare to come for a visit.
Remember to report suspicious activity by using the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker.
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