---
title: "Fake Webcam Footage Fools Online Daters into Falling for Scam Artists"
canonical: https://romancescamsnow.com/fake-webcam-footage-fools-online-daters-into-falling-for-scam-artists/
type: post
author: "SCARS Institute Editorial Team"
published: 2015-08-20
modified: 2022-03-24
summary: "According to the Better Business BureauScammers Can Easily Fake Web Cam VideosWhen it comes to scams, never believe what you see. In a new online dating con, scammers are using recorded webcam footage and stolen photos to disguise themselves as…"
organization: "SCARS Institute - Encyclopedia of Scans - World's #1 Anti-Scam Website - Romance Scams NOW"
organization_url: https://romancescamsnow.com/
llms: https://romancescamsnow.com/llms.txt
---

# Fake Webcam Footage Fools Online Daters into Falling for Scam Artists

# According to the Better Business Bureau

## Scammers Can Easily Fake Web Cam Videos

When it comes to scams, never believe what you see. In a new online dating con, scammers are using recorded webcam footage and stolen photos to disguise themselves as attractive American,  Canadian, or European singles.

### How the Scam Works:

You meet someone through a dating website, and you are falling in love. He/she sends you gushing emails, and you chat over webcam.  One thing is a bit strange, though. Whenever you make plans to meet in person, your new friend always has a reason to postpone.

Finally, after a few months or weeks, he/she asks you for money. The reasons given vary. Maybe he/she lost a job and needs a loan, or she/he has an unexpected medical expense.

After you send the cash, you find that your new sweetheart suddenly stops communicating. (Or maybe he/she sticks around long enough to ask for another loan.)

You’ve been scammed! But more than that, your love interest may not have been a real person at all. Scammers are increasingly using recorded webcam footage and pilfered photos to create fake online personas… all to trick singles into sending thousands of dollars.

### How the Scammers Do it?

Scammers spend weeks inside webcam chat rooms collecting footage, likely of someone who doesn’t even know he/she is being recorded. Then, they search Facebook and other websites to obtain photos for use in a fake dating profile. They actually pay teams of gatherers toi do this for the larger gangs of scammers.

When the victim chats with his/her new “love interest,” they are really seeing the recorded footage. Scammers edit the video and bookmark sections for easy reference. For example, the victim may see a woman in the webcam typing, while the scammer writes “

, look at this new dress I got today” on the chat screen. Then, the scammer plays footage of the woman standing up to show off the dress.

### How to Spot a Fake Online Dating Persona:

If you date online, watch out for the following warning signs:

- Your love interest always has an excuse to postpone a video meeting. Be wary of someone who is constantly “traveling” or happens to be working overseas.
- During a webcam chat, he/she doesn’t respond to an unexpected request. One way to test for pre-recorded footage is to ask them to do something and see if they react. Scammers will likely pause the video and claim they are having connection problems.
- Many people lie on their dating profiles, but watch out for discrepancies between the profile claims and the webcam/photos.  For example, the scammer may write in a profile that their fake persona is blonde but use webcam footage of a brunette.
- Watch out for someone whose writing style indicates they are a non-native English speaker even though they claim to be local. Most scammers behind this con are located overseas.
- Test them about their local knowledge, such as "where was that MickyD on
street" wthey won't know local slang or local locations
- Finally, be wary of profiles that are vague, use glamour shots and are looking for someone within a huge age range.