Love or romance scam is a type of fraud in which scammers manipulate individuals typically on dating apps, social media platforms or through email. The scammer uses the illusion of romance to establish an emotional connection with the victims, with the intent of ultimately defrauding them of money or personal information.
These scams can target people from diverse backgrounds, often seeking out those who may be vulnerable or lonely, making them prime targets.
How to spot a fake dating profile:
Attractive profile picture
Scammers use appealing images, often using pictures of actors, models, or stock photos to lure the victims.
Limited photos
Fake profiles typically have few pictures, often featuring professional-looking images or they might focus on hobbies or animals instead of showing themselves.
Few friends
Profiles with suspiciously few connections, friends or followers may be a sign of a potential fraudster.
Distant location
Love scammers frequently claim to work or live abroad for extended periods, which could raise suspicion.
Love scams also exhibit the following traits:
Quick declarations of love
Be wary if the individual expresses love very early in the relationship, especially before you've met in person.
Reluctance to share personal information
Scammers tend to avoid sharing personal details about themselves.
Inconsistent stories
Watch for inconsistencies in the information they provide. Scammers often make mistakes or change their stories when pressed for details.
Refusal to video chat or meet in person
Scammers typically make excuses to avoid face-to-face communication.
Sudden emergencies and financial requests
Scammers frequently invent urgent situations, such as medical emergencies, travel difficulties, or business problems, and ask for money to help them.
Things to keep in mind:
DO NOT engage with unfamiliar individuals on social networks and extend your trust to them.
Limit exposing yourself online as love scammers may gather details about you through these means.
DO NOT send money to a person you've never met.
Immediately STOP all communication with the individual you suspect is a scammer. Do not respond to their messages, emails or calls.
Report the individual to the platform or website where you first encountered them.
If you've suffered financial losses or believe the scammer poses a significant threat, contact your local law enforcement agency or a relevant online fraud reporting authority.
Rest assured that CelcomDigi is actively taking measures to ensure our customers do not fall prey to such scams.
