How to outsmart a romance scammer becomes even more complicated with the rise of AI, deepfake videos, and face swapping technology.
If you have been the victim of a romance scam, you are not alone.
A new study shows Americans lost $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2023.
Online dating scams have become a significant threat, with sophisticated fraudsters exploiting the search for romance to perpetrate financial fraud.
According to the New York Attorney General Letitia James, scammers are increasingly using dating apps, social media, and unsolicited messages to lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes, often involving cryptocurrency.
These scams, known as “pig butchering,” involve scammers building a relationship with their victims to gain trust before introducing fake investment opportunities. They present fabricated evidence of their own success and luxurious lifestyles to convince victims to invest.
The scam usually involves directing victims to seemingly legitimate but fraudulent platforms, where they see fictitious gains, prompting further investments. Eventually, the scammer disappears, leaving the victim without their money.
New Romance Scams: How To Outsmart a Romance Scammer
With new technology, comes new scams.
Here are some things to look out for:
#1 Crypto Scams:
Crypto is the No. 1 form of payment used in romance scams, accounting for 33% of total losses.
A romance crypto scam may go something like this. A scammer establishes trust, then presents a crypto investment guaranteeing huge returns using a fake crypto exchange. This actually goes into the criminal’s crypto wallet.
Scammers can also fake emergencies and ask to be paid in crypto.
How to Outsmart a Romance Scammer: Don’t send crypto to anyone you don’t know.
#2 Real-Time Face Swapping Deepfake Video Calls:
A Nigerian crime group are using face swapping technology to have video calls in real time while appearing as the person in their fake online profile. Victims think they are seeing the person with their own eyes and are humiliated when they are left heartbroken and penniless.
How to Outsmart a Romance Scammer: Look for unnatural blinking, inconsistent skin tone, body parts blending into each other, words not matching mouth movements, and no variance in facial expressions.
#3 Celebrity Romance Scams:
Deepfake technology has given rise to more celebrity scams. A woman recently lost $50,000 after she fell in love with a deepfake version of Elon Musk. Another victim divorced her husband for a scammer pretending to be Stranger Things actor Dacre Montgomery.
How to Outsmart a Romance Scammer: If someone famous needs money from a stranger online, it is a scam. Fake celebrity social media accounts have few followers and do not have blue check marks.
Key Warning Signs
- Profile Red Flags: Scammers often use fake or stolen identities. They may ask to move conversations to encrypted apps like WhatsApp or WeChat.
- Unverifiable Success: Claims of high investment returns with little evidence, urging quick investments.
- Isolation Tactics: Attempting to separate victims from friends and family by advising secrecy.
- Financial Requests: Pressuring for money transfers, cryptocurrency, or personal financial details.
Prevention Tips
- Verify Identities: Use online searches to check the authenticity of profiles and images.Verifying identities online is crucial for avoiding scams. Here are some effective tactics:
- Reverse Image Search: Use tools like Google Images or TinEye to check if a profile picture is used elsewhere on the web, indicating a fake identity.
- Social Media Cross-Check: Look for the person on various social media platforms. Consistent profiles across multiple sites can indicate authenticity.
- Search Their Name and Details: Use search engines to find information about the person. Verify their employment, education, and other details through LinkedIn or other professional sites.
- Email Address Search: Look up the email address online to see if it’s associated with any reported scams or inconsistencies.
- Check for Red Flags: Multiple profiles with different names but the same photos, overly polished or generic profiles, and poor language skills can be signs of a scam. By employing these tactics, you can better safeguard yourself from online fraudsters.
- Consult Professionals: Seek advice from trusted financial advisors before making any investments.
- Trust Instincts: If something feels off or too good to be true, it likely is.
- Report Suspicions: Contact the relevant platforms and law enforcement if you suspect fraud.
What Now?
Don’t fall victim to a scammer trying to prey on your desire for a relationship.
New York ranks No. 4 in the nation with 819 victims losing $30.2 million — down 10% from 2022. The average victim in New York lost $36,931.
California came in first with 2024 victims and $100.6 million in total money lost.
Attorney General James encourages victims to report scams and seek assistance. New Yorkers can file complaints with the Office of the Attorney General to help combat these fraudulent activities.
Check out your state’s Attorney General’s office to see what you can do if you need to file a complaint.
By staying vigilant and informed, individuals can protect themselves from falling victim to online dating scams.
For further details and resources, refer to the New York Attorney General’s warning.
