Jul 22, 2025 | 9:00 AM
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office is warning of a recent scam making the rounds.
The Sheriff’s Office has stated that one of the most frequent, and often devastating, scams in the county is romance scams.
Romance scams will often begin with an out-of-the-ordinary message online on social media such as Facebook or Instagram from someone you do not know.
Scammers will pose as someone who is kind and complimentary to build trust and affection.
They will quickly try to leave social media for private messaging apps such as Telegram or WhatsApp, which can be manipulated to better serve a scammer.
They will also deploy tactics such as fast-tracked intimacy, urgency, and fake emergencies, all in the hopes of stealing your money, often through cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or gift cards.
Scammers will also use either stolen social media photos and AI-generated images or profiles to portray the person they are pretending to be in order to gain a victim’s trust.
Tips offered by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office to protect yourself include having skepticism about fast-moving online relationships, continual excuses not to meet in person, and being wary of any person you’ve met online asking for currency in any form.
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