SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Avoid Romance Scams!
Valentine’s Day Can Be Anything But Romantic If You Get Trapped In Romance Scams
Valentine’s Day Is A Time Of Love And Celebration, But It’s Also A Time When Romance Scams Tend To Rise.
However, remember that you need to play it safe year-round too!
Romance scams are when fraudsters use fake online profiles to build a romantic relationship with someone and then use that relationship to take advantage of the person financially. These scams can be very convincing and cause emotional and financial harm to the victim.
To help you avoid falling victim to a romance scam this Valentine’s Day, here are some steps you can take to recognize romance scams and avoid them.
- Be cautious of people who move too quickly: One of the biggest red flags of a romance scam is when someone moves too quickly. Romance scams often try to build a sense of intimacy as quickly as possible in order to gain the victim’s trust. If someone you’ve only just met is already telling you that they love you or sending you gifts, be suspicious.
- Check their photos: Romance scammers often use fake photos to create their online profiles. To check if a photo is real, do a reverse image search by right-clicking the photo and selecting “search Google for this image.” If the same photo appears on multiple profiles, it’s likely that it’s a fake photo.
- Watch out for vague or inconsistent stories: Scammers often make up stories about themselves to gain their victim’s trust. If someone’s story seems vague or inconsistent, it may be a sign that they’re not telling the truth. Be wary of anyone who refuses to answer questions about their background or who can’t keep their story straight.
- Be careful of requests for money: One of the hallmarks of romance scams is when the scammer starts asking for money. This could be for anything from travel expenses to an emergency situation. If someone you’ve only just met is asking you for money, be cautious. No matter how convincing their story is, don’t send money to someone you’ve never met in person.
- Don’t give out personal information: The criminals behind romance scams will often ask for personal information such as your address, phone number, or bank details. Don’t give out this information until you’ve met the person in person and are sure that they are who they say they are.
- Use video chat: One of the best ways to avoid being scammed is to use video chat. This will allow you to see the person you’re talking to and make sure that they are who they say they are. Be wary of anyone who refuses to video chat with you or who makes excuses for why they can’t. But remember, look to see if the video is perfectly synchronized with the sound – if it is not it could be a recorded video and fake!
- Trust your gut: If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. If you have any doubts or suspicions about someone you’ve met online, don’t ignore them. Trust your instincts and be cautious.
By following these steps, you can help protect yourself from romance scams this Valentine’s Day.
Remember to be cautious and always be wary of anyone who moves too quickly, uses fake photos, or makes requests for money. By staying vigilant, you can avoid being scammed and have a happy and safe Valentine’s Day.
If You Suspect You Are In A Romance Scam
If you suspect that you are the victim of a romance scam, it’s important to take action as soon as possible to protect yourself. Here are the steps you should take to protect yourself during romance scams:
- Stop all communication with the scammer: As soon as you suspect that you are the victim of a romance scam, stop all communication with the person who you think is the scammer. This will help prevent the scammer from taking advantage of or manipulating you further.
- Report the scam to the appropriate authorities: If you lost money, start by reporting to your local police, since they may be able to recover it. Then report romance scams to your national police – in the United States we recommend the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – you can find other agencies to report to in our directory. Then also report the crime on the SCARS website www.Anyscam.com By reporting the scam, you can help the authorities stop romance scams and prevent others from becoming victims. Remember, every report matters even if they do not take immediate action.
- Protect your financial information: If the scammer has access to your bank account or has taken money from you, contact your bank immediately. Close any bank accounts that have been compromised and change any passwords that the scammer may have had access to. Be sure to give your bank the local police report number when you report the fraud.
- Document the romance scam: Keep a record of all the communication you had with the scammer, including any emails, texts, or phone calls. This information can be used to build a case against the scammer. Learn more here. You can also use our Scam Organizer available here.
- Join a SCARS Scam Victim’s Support Group: SCARS provides free support for the victims of romance scams for as long as they need it. To sign up visit support.AgainstScams.org
- Seek support from friends and family: Scams can be emotionally draining, so it’s important to seek support from friends and family. Talking about the scam with someone you trust can help you process what happened and start to move on. Watch this video to learn how to tell your story to friends and family.
- Be cautious in the future: Once you’ve been the victim of a scam, you’re more likely to be targeted again in the future. Be wary of anyone who contacts you out of the blue, especially if they ask for money.
- Consider seeking legal action: If you’ve lost a significant amount of money as a result of the scam, you may want to consider seeking legal action if it was sent to someone in your same country. A lawyer can help you navigate the legal process and recover your losses if the police are unable to.
- Do not hire a scam investigator or a company to recover your money: Many companies claim to be able to investigate and recover your money. These are just more scams. Only the police can investigate and obtain a court order to recover your money.
It’s important to remember that romance scammers are experts at manipulating their victims and that you are not alone and it is not your fault. By taking the steps above, you can help protect yourself from further harm and start to recover from these romance scams.
Finally, it’s important to take care of yourself emotionally. Being the victim of a romance scam can be traumatic and can take a toll on your mental health. It’s important to reach out for help if you need it, whether that be through friends and family, a support group, or a therapist. You can find resources for counseling or therapy here.
With time and support, you will be able to move on from the scam and start to rebuild your life.
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
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