Navigating Romance Scams on Valentine's Day

Online romance scams are common cyber frauds where scammers gain victims' trust, deceive them into believing they're in a romantic relationship, and then disappear, leaving them in financial trouble.

A romance scam is a cyber crime where scammers create fake profiles, gain trust, and ask victims for money, claiming it's an emergency or health issues, before disappearing without trace, posing a threat to victims.

How to recognize and avoid a romance scam.

Identifying the warning signals is critical to avoiding falling victim to a romance scam and safeguarding your finances. Here are some of the things to watch out for:

• Is this an actual person? Be skeptical if they say they can't meet in person. Your online love interest will most likely pretend to reside overseas, travel often, serve in the armed forces, or work for an international organization.

• An incomplete profile. Scammers create profiles using bogus personal information, and their profile information is frequently insufficient. If you look for their name online, you will most likely come up empty-handed.

• The information is sketchy. Scammers might make mistakes by contradicting themselves or providing you untrue information. Messages are frequently poorly written or unclear.

• Stunning shots. Do the photographs they send you appear real? They could have been stolen from another profile or produced with artificial intelligence. Be skeptical of images from strangers, especially if they appear to have been heavily edited or taken by a professional photographer.

• They solicit for money or account information. Scammers will usually beg you to send them money, personal information, or bank account passwords. Never give a stranger your personal information or transfer money.

What to do if you discover a romance scam?

Here are some guidelines to follow if you believe you have been the victim of a romantic scam.

• Do not transfer money. First and foremost, never pay money to somebody you have never met in person.

• Gather evidence. If you believe anything is not right, end the conversation. Save chats and photographs, and take notes on everything the scammer tells you. Even little facts can help authorities apprehend the scammer and keep them from targeting other victims.

• Notify both the website and your bank. Most websites and apps provide a reporting feature. Reporting scams is critical. If you have already sent money, contact your bank immediately.

• Alert the authorities. The authorities should be informed of these schemes. Many people are too ashamed to report them; nonetheless, it is critical that they do so in order for the victim to receive the appropriate support.