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Beware of the rise of romance scams with Alexis Conran

What happens when the object of your affections breaks your heart and your bank account? As new data shows that money lost to romance fraud has increased by 60 per cent in the last six months, we’ll meet Claire Spencer, the woman who was conned out of hundreds of pounds by a man pretending to be a struggling single father. Plus, Alexis Conran will be helping you swipe left to the scammers, as he shares the red flags you need to look out for.

A romance scam tricks you into sending money to someone online?Fraudsters will adopt a false identity in order to develop a seemingly intimate relationship, or even a friendship, to encourage their victims to send them financial support or to invest in one of their own ventures. The victim will oblige by sending them funds out of guilt, pity or fear of rejection. Scammers don't need a lot of your personal information, they just need you to go out of your own way to send the money. This type of scam can also be referred to as an "Authorised push payment scam".

Romance scams are on the rise?By the end of 2022 it was reported that the amount of people who fell victim to romance scams had increased by 60%, with an average loss of over £8,000. Research also suggests that men have become the primary victims, making up 53% of all cases as opposed to 37% in 2022.

The scammer will create a fake occupation?Scammers will often say they have an overseas, or difficult job, as an excuse to not meet up with their victims. Some of these occupations include:

  • Armed forces.

  • Offshore oil rig.

  • Doctor or nurse as part of an organised charity.

  • Businessman or woman.

However, a false occupation may not always be necessary, as they may simply convince their victim that they live abroad.

They will create believable stories to gain sympathy?The fraudster tries to make you believe that they are in a difficult situation, the severity of which may differ. The common goal is to make you feel sorry for them, and wire transfer them money as soon as possible. They will tell lies such as:

  • They require money for travel expenses as they are stuck overseas, or to fund their visa.

  • They've become ill and need money for surgery or treatment.

  • They're exporting a product, but need cash to pay for customs.

  • They need help paying off a debt.

  • They have a business opportunity that they'd like to involve you in.

Scammers will typically target victims through social media or online dating apps?The romance scammers will create fake profiles on dating sites such as Tinder, Hinge and Bumble, or alternatively try to get in touch with you through Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Their bios will usually be entirely fabricated, and their pictures will be of someone totally different to themselves. In order to avoid suspicion, the scammer will try and build a relationship over time before eventually asking for financial support.

Scammers have set up shop in Facebook groups, where they sell your information to other scammers?These easy-to-access groups act as a hub for a network of scammers where they can boast about people they have scammed, sell on contact details of previous victims and even teach others the tricks of the trade.

People should be wary of the telltale signs?Some people feel so lonely and in need of affection that they refuse to acknowledge the important indicators of a scam that most people may recognise. These include:

  • They confess their love at a very early stage, and they are doing this to try and get the money as quickly as possible.

  • The user will have a seemingly incomplete profile, with a couple of low quality pictures but no localised information such as their place of birth or job.

  • They want to leave the dating app too quickly, and continue communication Over text.

  • The user will have a sudden emergency, such as a hospital bill, fear of eviction or travel concerns.

  • They will force these on you a lot earlier than you would be comfortable with - this is a common tactic across many scams

We can all protect ourselves from romance scammers?There are several steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of a romance scam.

  • You should end the contact immediately if you suspect that you are being scammed.

  • Conduct a reverse image search to see if their pictures were used on any other profiles.

  • Research their story and determine if it has been used in any other scams.

  • Listen to people you trust if they are concerned about your online relationship.

  • Never send money or gifts to someone you have never met in person.

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