Black Bullhead Catfish (Ameiurus Melas), Source US Fish and Wildlife Service, Author Duane Raver (PD as work product of Federal Govt.)
CBS News is reporting an epidemic of romance scams [1][2]. Losses in 2023 are estimated in the range of $1.3 billion. The emotional toll is even more devastating.
Victims come in all ages, and are from all walks of life. Scams are underreported, since victims are often ashamed to admit they have been taken in.
Fake Profiles
Fake profiles can easily be set up on dating sites like Match.com.
A 2019 lawsuit in the US District Court for the Northern District of Dallas by the Federal Trade Commission vs. Match Group Inc. (which operates at least a dozen such sites) alleged that as many as 25-30% of Match members from 2013-2018 were actually using the online dating service to perpetrate fraud.
Exploiting Hope
The modus operandi of scammers is to create a fake persona (attractive image included), gain the trust of their victims, then exploit their hope.
Money is extracted from victims either by way of sob stories (a sudden accident, a sick relative); excuses that the online partner’s funds are temporarily “tied up”; or plans for the fabulous life the online couple is about to share. These are, of course, fabrications.
The Home of Scammers
Ghana and Nigeria are home to thousands of scammers operating with impunity. Teams there harness technology to mask their location, steal and utilize online images without the knowledge of their rightful owners, and expertly impersonate accents. Artificial Intelligence (AI) facilitates these scams.
The process is seamless. Victims are clueless.
Law enforcement does not have the resources to fully investigate overseas. Consumers are advised never to send money to someone they have only met online.
False Intimacy
“I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases” (S0l. 8: 4).
The men and women who fall prey to these financial frauds are not fools. They are simply lonely and anxious for connection.
That is only natural. Human beings were made for connection.
But relationships that exist solely online provide us a false sense of intimacy. They seem fantasies personified.
We put all doubts aside; fill in all gaps in our knowledge with dreams of a rosy future. Excited at the prospect of love, we rush headlong forward — our arms outstretched, and our eyes wide shut.
The Bible instructs us not to rush into anything, least of all a romantic relationship (Prov. 19: 2). What God has for us, we will have in due time. Meanwhile, we need to ask His guidance, and wait on His timing.
That is the safest and best course.
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[1] YouTube, “Tragic stories shed light on romance scam epidemic”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azYwHFUYOLA.
[2] CBS News, “Match Group CEO Bernard Kim on romance scams: ‘Things happen in life'” by Jim Axelrod, 4/28/24, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/match-group-ceo-bernard-kim-on-romance-scams/.
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
Nice Post
Thank you.
I understand when you say the victims are not fools, but it is difficult for me to reconcile that with the abundant warnings already out about internet scams.
It is sad when people are victimized, but most of the time this can be avoided if they just looked for genuine community instead of a quick fix online.😔
I agree that there is an addiction to social media which actually limits, rather than enhancing, personal interaction. Moreover, our society pushes the “instant fix”. We are not taught to value patience…let alone God’s timing for our lives.
so many get taken in by these sorts of scams. Its terrible. ❤
So right, Carol Anne.
There is an old adage that says “if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is”. I have lived most of my life believing this to be true, and being overly cautious has saved me many (not all) times.
All walks of life, particularly those involving romantic relationships, are susceptible to fraud when there is an emotional involvement. The hurt runs deep and the damage can be extensive, yet because we yearn for love and companionship we put ourselves out there, counting the cost as being worth it all.
If only evil people didn’t exist-and one day they will not!
Well said, Ron. We are especially vulnerable in the search for love. There is actually a television program (“Married at First Sight”) in which singles marry a complete stranger.
A few months ago, I was scammed out of $15,000. It was a devastating experience, and I felt completely hopeless about ever recovering my money. Then I discovered a service called Scammer Payback on Telegram. They took the time to understand my situation, guided me through the process, and within a few weeks, they managed to trace the transaction and recover all my money. Their expertise and dedication were truly remarkable.
I wanted to share this because I believe it might help others who have been in a similar situation. It’s important to have evidence of the payment, but it’s not too late to try and recover your money. If you’re interested, you can find them on Telegram at @scammerspaybac or through their email scammerspayback419@gmail.com
Thank you so much for sharing this information! There are countless scams out there now (romantic and otherwise). Consumers must be especially careful.