What is a Romance Scam?
A Romance Scam is when con-artists (people who trick other people to get their money) adopt fake identities on the Internet to take advantage of susceptible victims. They create the illusion of a close or romantic relationship so that they become of importance to the victim, causing them to be blindsided by trust. Most scammers will propose marriage before making plans to meet in person, and although they promise an in-person gathering at some point, it usually never happens. Statistics have said that con-artists usually say they are in the building or construction industry so that they have an excuse to ask for money.
Tips to avoid a romance scam:
Do a thorough search of your mystery person.
Oftentimes, romance scammers will use photos and identity profiles from other people on the Internet. If their identity does not exist, it is more than likely that you are being scammed.
Do not jump straight into the relationship.
You could start out simply as Internet friends on the same forum. Go slowly and be sure to ask many questions (best if they are unpredictable) to test the other person’s character.
Make sure to meet the person.
Experts recommend talking to your “lover” over the phone to get to know them and their character first in order to establish whether or not they pose an immediate threat. A video call would then be the best next course of action as it allows you to communicate with the other party face-to-face without putting yourself in danger. If you are certain that the person is trustworthy enough to meet in person, meet in a public space with lots of people around. Treat this meeting as if you are meeting with a stranger because the scammer could be performing under a false facade. To be clear, most romance scammers will never agree to meet with you in public. They will vehemently deny your requests to meet in-person and insist on continuing with just verbal communication. Should they continue this suspicious behaviour, contact the authorities and immediately disconnect from the scammer.
In our current dependence on technology during the pandemic, it is crucial to be vigilant on the Internet. One may wear the guise of genuine, lovable people, but they could be, in fact, the opposite. Do not let yourself be taken advantage of, and protect yourself from romance scams.
Published March 12, 2021
Written by Fiona Xu ~ Edited by Farah Mourad ~ Graphics by Elwin Fu
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