Tag Archives: financial scams

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. Continue reading →