Online dating is not only limited to dating sites. With social media having become more integral to our daily lives, many people find love on social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and several other platforms. And with social networks making it easier than ever for people to connect with each other, it’s become a prime playground for scammers looking to get their hands on your money.
HOW THE SCAM WORKS
Called catfishing, these romance scammers take advantage of a person’s need for love and companionship. Using a fake profile, often using other people’s profile images and personal info, they are expert manipulators. They shower people with loving words and, over time, win their trust. Scammers will continue this so-called relationship for months or even years before asking a person for money.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT
Always approach any new online acquaintance with caution. Before getting too invested in anything, you should do a bit of homework on the person you’re chatting to first.
- Verify their profile picture. Simply perform a reverse image search to check that the picture being used wasn’t taken from someone else’s profile. Google has a quick guide on how to do this.
- Do a simple online search of the person’s name and try and verify their story. Searching for terms like “Oil Rig Scammer” or “Soldier Scammer” will give you a few results of possible similar encounters. Some of the most common stories used by scammers are:
- They’re a doctor or activist working for and international organisation.
- They’re in the military (often in Afghanistan).
- They’re working on an oil rig or some other far-off, isolated location.
- Be careful of any person professing their love for you within a matter of weeks or even days.
- Don’t share personal information without giving it a second thought.
- Think carefully before you start chatting to someone privately. Oftentimes, the scammer will try and move you away from a specific site to a more personal platform like WhatsApp.
- Keep an eye out for inconsistencies in the way the person writes to you. In most cases, these scams are run by syndicates and several people are manning the various sites or profiles.
- Once the scammers have won your trust, they will start to ask for money. They usually start with small amounts, slowly coaxing you into paying larger amounts as things progress. Some common requests include:
- Paying for a plane ticket or travel expenses.
- Paying for medical expenses such as urgent surgery or medication.
- Assisting with paying customs fees to retrieve a package.
- Helping to cover gambling debt.
- Help to pay for travel documents or a visa.
- The scammer will put a lot of pressure on you to transfer money as soon as possible, usually saying it’s urgent. Anyone who’s truly invested in a relationship would understand if you refuse to pay.
- Never share your personal banking details with someone you’ve met online.
- Be cautious if a person keeps making excuses for not being able to meet with you.
- Listen to others. If friends or family voice their concerns about your interactions with a specific person, pay attention. Those being scammed are often blind to the manipulation and it’s difficult for them to accept that they’ve been conned.
- If you have any doubts about the person you’re communicating with, end the conversation immediately.
- Report the scammer’s profile to the social site as soon as possible. Then block the scammer entirely.
Below are a few more general tips from Sky Women, a scam awareness and support group, on how to be more secure online:
- Increase security setting as far as possible on Facebook, Skype, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Internet dating sites.
- Activate your social media accounts with 2-factor authentication and use a strong password.
- Enable a 2-step verification code on WhatsApp.
- Avoid accepting friend or contact requests from people you either don’t know or don’t have mutual friends with.
- Limit the personal information that you post publicly.
- If you’ve been in contact with a scammer via email, enable filters to block any future emails from reaching your inbox.
- If filtering messages isn’t enough, you might have to delete your account and create a new one. Only give your new address and profile details to people you know.
- Ensure your computer’s security protection is up to date. Seek professional advice or ask for help from family members.
- Hyperlinks can be hidden. Never click on links or images in emails (especially from unknown senders). Instead, enter the websites’ homepage manually and follow the link or do a quick online search for the company or offer in question.
- Be sceptical. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Sources: AARP | Scamwatch: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission | Federal Trade Commission