Scam Alert🚨📢:Episode 04: Romance scams

Fake profiles and fake identity thefts are particularly common through social media or messaging applications such as WhatsApp, where frauds dedicate their time to constructing false personalities, manipulating beneficiaries, and narrating well-written scenarios. They spend more time developing an emotional attachment and then confuse the victim asking them for money on the guise of a genuine emergency or travel. The client is asked to send cash to the scammer, then the scammer disappears with the money.

Signs of romance scams

Look out for these warning signs to spot a potential romance scam on social media:

• Unrealistic photos: Avoid photos that are too polished or look like professional photos since this is a couple betraying a fake person.
• Requests for money: It should also be remembered that never should one give out any amount of money or be asked to send money for say, a trip (which the scammer may disguise as a visit to the victim).
• Inconsistent stories: When you are communicating with someone online and he or she gives different accounts of different stories or there is an inconsistency or abrupt alterations in the stories that he or she is telling, it is advisable to be very careful.
• Avoidance of face-to-face interaction: It is wise to be wary if a person you are communicating with frequently pleads helplessly for not being able to meet face-to-face or at least via Skype/zoom.

Avoid falling into a romance scam on social media with these tips:

• Be skeptical of unknown profiles: It will be appropriate to be a little careful if somebody approaches you intending to engage you in a conversation for the first time.
• Never send money to strangers: Never give out your cash or identity card to anyone on the Internet and that is a fact even if it seems that they are a very nice person.
• Verify identities: One is always able to tell whether the person is genuine or not, in case the person is fake he or she will avoid video calling. If they refuse or start to find reasons not to, it is highly likely that they are fake in the identity they claim to be.
• Beware of rushed relationships: This is where they want a quick decision; do not be in a hurry, you have all the time to build a relationship.

See you In the Next Episode….