With a surge in dating apps and social media sites, online romance scams are on the rise now more than ever. These channels allow scammers to hide behind the screen, posing as prospective partners to swindle users looking for love.
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ROMANCE SCAM INVESTIGATION
Romance fraud can be financially crippling, with Scamwatch reporting a record-breaking $37 million lost by Australians to dating scams in 2021. Moreover, the FBI reports that Americans lost a record high of $547 million to online dating scams in the same year. Such crimes also inflict emotional scars, often damaging the victim’s relationships with friends and family members.
If you have been targeted by a romance scam, please contact our investigators now. We will uncover actionable evidence to help you prosecute the orchestrator behind the crime and put an end to their deception. GRB investigates every romance scam with unwavering sensitivity, professionalism and discretion. We understand the emotional complexities of this type of case, keeping its details confidential and encrypting your personal data for privacy purposes.
The most common online dating and romance scams
Military romance scams
Fraudsters may create a fake profile with the name and images of a real soldier to send you messages online. They will try to foster an emotional connection, but will be ‘deployed’ before you can meet in person.
Next, the scammer may request money to pay for things like WiFi, medical bills or flights home – none of which are actually needed. In reality, it is all a ploy to steal your savings.
Intimate activity scams
A scammer will court you until you are comfortable enough to engage in a seemingly private and intimate webcam session. However, the criminal may then then reveal their true colours, threatening to release the recording unless you pay them a specified sum.
Photograph scams
In this type of scam, the culprit persuades you to send your contact details in exchange for intimate images of themselves. The reality is that they are trying to seize your personal information so that they can steal your money.
Fake dating sites
Some scam dating sites claim to offer legitimate connections but are in fact riddled with scammers. A common tactic entails asking you to create a profile in order to mine your data through sign-up or ‘premium membership’ questionnaires that request personal details.
Moreover, be wary of an influx of messages from suitors after you’ve made your profile, especially if it features minimal information. This is a romance scam red flag.
Code verification scams
You may be asked to verify your online dating account by a scammer posing as the official platform. The communications ask you to click on a third-party link and enter personal data such as your name, address, and even bank account or credit card information that will eventually be used to access your funds.
Malware scams
Malware is a prevalent type of romance scam. Users on dating sites may offer to share further details about themselves on a website page or fake social media profile. These pages contain malicious software that can steal your personal information, ultimately aiding identity theft and financial fraud.
Inheritance scams
The scammer claims they have to marry in order to inherit millions of dollars in gold left by a deceased loved one, who has stated marriage as a prerequisite in their Will. Alternatively, they may say that they cannot afford to remove the gold from their country and ask for your financial assistance.
Once they have built a personal bond with you, they may propose visiting you in person to prove their legitimacy – only to disappear as soon as you transfer money for their flight.
