Are you using dating apps? If yes, then you must stay alert and not fall into the trap of any online romance scam that has become a rage nowadays. Recently, there were several reports of fraudsters stealing people’s money online by posing as famous celebrities . However, it’s not only limited to dating apps but fraudsters are also attacking via social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Recently a UK based woman was scammed by a fraudster posing as the famous Hollywood star Nicolas Cage on Facebook and she ended up losing a whopping £10,000 of her hard-earned money.
According to charity Victim Support, the lady was led to believe that she was chatting with a renowned actor on Facebook, The scammer told her that he planned to visit the UK while urging her to keep their relationship “on the low down” and asked for money to pay his taxes. She handed over around £10,000 to the scammer.
This is not the only case. Almost 9,000 cases of romance fraud have been reported in the UK last year as police figures show. However, it’s feared that the true number could be much higher as many victims feel embarrassed to speak up.
Here’s how you can protect yourself from falling into the trap of an online Romance scam
| Time | Tools | Supplies |
| 10 Minutes |
Step 1:
If you suspect something is off about the person that you are chatting to, try Google reverse searching their images to see if they are used on other dating sites or under other names.
Step 2:
Be aware if you find ‘Lovebombing’ with ultimate attention to detail.
Step 3:
The scammers avoid meeting up or video calling and making excuses to stick to messages.
Step 4:
They pretend to have no friends or family.
Step 5:
Ask you to move away from the dating platform fast to carry on the conversation on another platform.
Step 6:
They can tell you some emotional backstory that leaves you feeling sorry for them immediately.
Step 7:
Ask money for an emergencies like home repairs, travel, medical expenses or to pay off a debt or make you feel guilty if you don’t do as they ask.
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