Page 21 - Fall 2024_Neat

Spotting and Avoiding Romance Scams

BY MIKE BURKE

fairytale lives up to reality.
Dating is no longer limited to being in person. Pew
Research Center states three in 10 U.S. adults have used a Be careful of what you post
dating site or app. Unfortunately, not everyone is looking for online.
love. For scammers, they are only in love with your money. The more you share, the more Mike Burke is a veteran law
Here’s how to swipe left on the scammers and keep from being dating site scammers know enforcement professional with
experience in criminal justice
heartbroken. about you. If you happen to instruction, homeland security
have everything in common, it and fraud investigation. He
The Fake First Date may be a scammer telling you guides SHAZAM clients to
Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and what you want to hear. enhance their security
apps or contact you through popular social media sites like measures and ensure
Instagram or Facebook. They strike up a relationship with you Check for catfishing. regulatory compliance.
to build up trust, sometimes talking or chatting several times a Do some research on your cyber SHAZAM is an ACB
day. They may say they love you early in the relationship. And crush by checking out their Preferred Solutions Provider
just when you think this is the start of something new, the red social media profiles. If their
flags come up. profile is blank or they have no
friends, it may be a sign the person isn’t who they say they are.
Relationship Red Flags You can also conduct a reverse image search to see if their
Scammers are social chameleons. They change their story to photos are on other sites.
play on your emotions. Here are some of their red flags.
Do not send compromising photos.
An emotional long-distance relationship. Never send revealing pictures or videos to someone, especially
An international location is a common reason a new fling is someone you haven’t met. These could be used as blackmail
unable to go on a virtual date. They might say they are unable later to extort you out of more money.
to talk on the phone or show their face because they’re in the
military, on an oil rig or working with an international Break up and Report
organization. Pay attention to their background and be on the If you think someone is a scammer, cut off contact and never
lookout for any inconsistencies in their story. get back together with them. Then, report the incident to the
dating or social media site where the scam started.
They need money. Additionally, you can report it to the FTC.
Once the relationship is established, the requests for money ______________________
start. Perhaps it’s for a medical emergency or for travel Resources:
expenses to come see you, except they bail at the last minute. FTC
Whatever the excuse is, you should never send money or gifts Norton
to someone you haven’t met in person.
And it can only be sent a certain way.
All scammers, not just romance scammers, want you to send
money fast in a hard-to-trace format. Anyone who asks you to
share account numbers, send gift cards or wire transfers, or pay
with payment apps or cryptocurrency is not worth your time
and attention.

Avoiding Being Heartbroken
Scammers play on people’s emotions to make their connection
more magical than it is. Here are some signs to make sure your

A COMMUNITY BANKER | 21 | Fall 2024
RKANSAS