(WWJ) – Federal officials in Michigan issued a warning in advance of Valentine’s Day this year — beware of scammers who fake romance to hit your pocketbook.
Patch.com reported on a new study by the Internet Complaint Center that showed millions of people across the country fell victim to love scammers in 2020 who tricked lovestruck Americans out of $281 million. Michiganders reported losing $28 million to crooks faking affection in the same year, which set a record in the state for the highest amount of money taken in scams.
While the FBI said scammers do not discriminate and people of all ages are at risk, older women are most vulnerable. Scammers fake romantic relationships to gain access to social security numbers, bank accounts and other financial information.
According to AARP, the loneliness of older people is often preyed on — they are sought out after traumatic life events, such as the death of a spouse or a financial difficulty like being let go from a job. Scammers will skim through obituaries, dig through trash and look at documents available on and off the internet to get information on a potential victim.
Officials advised it is healthy to be wary and take things slow, as scam artists work to jump into relationships quickly. The FBI said Michiganders should be careful about what they post online and make sure to ask questions. Any attempt to isolate you from friends and family is a red flag. Agents warned to never send money or inappropriate photos to people you have never met and be very cautious of individuals who are reluctant to meet in person.
The FBI’s complete list of tips for citizens to remember as they enter new relationships is available here.
Romance scams have been on the rise in recent years and experts point the finger at the comfort and ease of using online dating sites.
“More and more Americans are generally more comfortable meeting online for platonic and romantic relationships, and these scams are following them, whether it’s apps or social media sending them friend requests or instant messages on Facebook saying, ‘I’m in love with you’ and then asking for money,” Kathy Stokes, the director of AARP’s Fraud Prevention Program, told Patch in a related story.
If anyone believes they are the victim of a scam, the FBI said the first thing people should do is immediately stop all contact and call your bank to notify them of the suspicious activity. Victims should also report scam artists to the online platforms where they met.
Romance scams can also be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.