Singles seeking love this Valentine’s Day should be on high alert as a record number of romance scams are expected.
Scammers will flood dating apps and social media with fake photos to trick you into falling in love so they can steal your money.
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To help avoid scams, Social Catfish – a company that verifies online identities using reverse image searches – today released the 100 Most Common Photos Romance Scammers Use after analyzing 10 million reverse image searches performed on its site in 2023.
A record $1.3 billion was lost to romance scams in 2022, up from $547 million in 2021. With scammers adding cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, deepfake videos and voice cloning to their toolkit, this Valentine’s Day is expected to be the most financially devasting on record.
Arizona ranks No. 5 in the nation with 680 victims losing $25.4 million to romance scams in 2022, the most recent year on record.
7 tips to avoid romance scams
Romance scams can happen to anyone, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of falling victim to one.
- Before entering a romantic relationship with someone online conduct a reverse image search to confirm their true identity.
- Research them thoroughly using search engines and social media to verify their identity and be cautious if you cannot find any information about them.
- If someone you have just met online asks for money, be wary. Do not send money or provide financial information to anyone you have not met in person and built a trusting relationship with.
- Scammers often initiate contact out of the blue, so be wary of messages or emails from people you don’t know. Be particularly cautious if the message is overly flattering or if they quickly profess their love for you.
- Scammers often avoid meeting in person, so make sure you meet your potential partner face-to-face before getting too invested in the relationship. Meeting in person will also allow you to assess their true identity and intentions.
- If something feels too good to be true or doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. Scammers often use emotional manipulation to gain their victims’ trust, so be cautious of anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable.
- If you use dating sites, make sure they are reputable and trustworthy. Check the site’s safety guidelines and security features and be cautious of anyone who asks you to use a different platform or website to communicate with them.
5 steps to take if you have been scammed
Discovering that you have been the victim of a romance scam can be a traumatic experience, but it’s essential to take action quickly to minimize the damage.
- Report the Scam to the Authorities: File a report with your local law enforcement agency, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
- Cease all Communication with the Scammer:Once you have identified that you have been scammed, do not respond to any further messages or calls, and block them on all platforms. If you have sent money, don’t send any more.
- Protect Your Identity: Scammers may have collected personal information about you during the scam, so take steps to protect your identity. Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication on all your accounts. Monitor your bank accounts and credit cards for any unusual activity.
- Get Help and Support: Being a victim of a romance scam can be a traumatic and humiliating experience. Most victims never come forward and without seeking help many commit suicide. Seek help from family, friends, or a professional counselor. Don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed to talk about what happened; remember that you are not alone.
- Be Cautious: Often the same victim gets scammed multiple times. Once a person has been scammed, scammers know they are susceptible so they will approach them in multiple places and ways. It is important to stop giving money and personal information to anyone online that you have never met.
