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ONLINE SCAMS

 * Security Center
 * Online Scams
 * Romance scams in 2023: What you need to know + online dating scam statistics


ROMANCE SCAMS IN 2023: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW + ONLINE DATING SCAM STATISTICS

Written by Clare Stouffer, a NortonLifeLock employee

November 7, 2022

In today's day and age, dating is no longer limited to the people you meet in
person.  

With more than 57 million people using dating apps in the U.S., it’s never been
easier to connect with others online.  

Unfortunately, some people use these apps for more than letting digital sparks
fly. Instead, some scammers use them to carry out romance scams.  

According to the FBI, reports of these online scams have increased by nearly 25%
since 2019, with those affected losing a record high of $547 million in 2021
from being swindled by their cyber sweetheart. This just grazes the surface
of online dating scam statistics.   

We’ve rounded up 25 of those statistics to consider, as well as romance scammer
avoidance pointers to ensure your love at first swipe or click is legit. 


WHAT IS A ROMANCE SCAM (AND WHAT TYPES ARE THERE)? 

A romance scam, also known as an online dating scam, is when a person gets
tricked into believing they’re in a romantic relationship with someone they met
online, when in fact their other half is a cybercriminal using a fake identity
to gain enough of their trust to ask — or blackmail — them for money. 

Some of the most common internet dating scams include:       

 * Fake dating sites: Scam dating sites claim to be legitimate but are actually
   filled with scammers or underpopulated. These websites are created to mine
   your information.         
 * Photo scams: Scammers will convince their target to send their personal
   information in exchange for intimate photos.         
 * Military romance scams: The scammer will pose as a military member, likely
   deployed. They build trust by using military jargon and titles, then ask for
   money to cover military-related expenses, such as flights home.
 * Intimate activity scams: The scammer connects with their target on multiple
   social media websites. Once they become closer, the scammer convinces them to
   undress and then threatens them with the recordings.
 * Code verification scams: Scammers will send a fake verification code through
   email or text, posing to be a dating app or website. Once clicked on, it will
   ask for their personal information, including Social Security number and
   credit cards.         
 * Inheritance scams: Scammers will make their target believe they need to get
   married in order to get their inheritance. In this case, they will ask them
   to help pay for something like airfare.         
 * Malware scams: Malware is also common on dating sites. In this case, the
   recipient will interact with a scammer who sends them a website that looks
   legitimate; however, it's a page that includes malware.   

Now that you know the different types of romance scams circulating on the
internet, let’s look at how they work.


HOW ROMANCE SCAMS WORK





Oftentimes, a romance scammer starts on dating sites or apps. But scammers have
increasingly started finding targets on social media, too.

After connecting with someone through a fake profile, the scammer will strike up
a conversation and start building a relationship by regularly chatting with
them. Once they start to trust the romance scammer and believe they have a
truthful relationship, the cybercriminal will make up a story, ask them for
money, and vanish.



WARNING SIGNS: LIES ROMANCE SCAMMERS TELL




 

How can you identify a scammer? Well, you probably have a sense of what's
considered normal behavior online. But it might be hard to see through an online
dating scam when emotions are involved.  

If you want to know how to tell if someone is scamming you online, here are some
telltale signs a cybercriminal may be the one sweeping you off your feet.


THEY’RE FAR, FAR AWAY

One of the first giveaways of a romance scammer is their background. Fakers
often pose as someone who is stationed abroad to create a reason for why they
can't meet in person. Some common stories include:        

 * They’re working on an oil rig.      
 * They’re in the military and/or deployed overseas.
 * They’re a doctor in an international organization.
 * They’re working on a construction project outside the U.S.  

Since their story is so interesting, be sure to keep a close eye on any
inconsistencies in it.


THEIR PROFILE SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

A legitimate dating profile usually has plenty of photos of the person in
different situations, with one or two that show the person's whole body, not
just part of their face. The individual might also include links to their
Instagram or Facebook accounts. 

In contrast, a dating profile might be fake if the person doesn't list any
details. Or maybe their interests and hobbies almost exactly match yours — the
similarities might be too good to be true. 


THE RELATIONSHIP MOVES FAST

Online dating scam artists want to act fast before their targets catch on to
their tactics. For this reason, they like to gain your trust right out of the
gate. Some common approaches include:         

 * They profess their love to you surprisingly quickly.       
 * They ask you to marry them.       
 * They make a promise you will see each other.
 * They ask to move communications off the dating site — you aren't seeing other
   people anyway, right?  

Many online dating sites offer some safety features, and if you move your
conversation to text messages or other chat options, you lose those features.
Plus, the person will have your phone number, which could make it harder to cut
communication. 

In any event, it’s a good idea to pay attention to your conversations and
consider the following red flags:        

 * The person’s messages look like they could be copy-and-pasted into any
   conversation.
 * The conversation doesn't flow or make sense.
 * Grammar and spelling are way off.
 * They come up with different excuses when asked to video chat.


BUT THEY BREAK PROMISES TO VISIT

Romance scammers want to keep their identities a secret. One way to keep you
from questioning their identity is a promise to come visit. They may even have
you pay for plane tickets or other travel costs. But they'll cancel at the last
minute, providing an elaborate reason for why they can't see you after all.


THEY CLAIM THEY NEED MONEY

If your online love interest asks you for money and you haven’t even met them,
beware. A romance scammer may ask you to send money for things like:      

 * Travel expenses like a plane ticket or visa.       
 * Medical expenses like surgeries.       
 * Gambling debts.        
 * Family or personal emergencies. 

And they usually have a sob story to back up their request.  

An alternate money scam to watch for: They may send you money! This could rope
you into a "money mule" scheme, whereby the scammer asks to deposit money into
your bank account, distribute the funds to other people, or deliver packages.
These requests could be tied to money laundering. 


AND THEY ASK FOR SPECIFIC PAYMENT METHODS

Be cautious if your cyber sweetheart asks you to send them money via:        

 * Wire transfer       
 * Preloaded gift cards       
 * A newly established bank account in your name 

These are ways to get cash quickly while remaining anonymous. Plus, the
transactions are hard to reverse. Once you send a little bit of money, they
might even ask for more. If you say no, their messages may get desperate and
aggressive.


10 TIPS TO AVOID ROMANCE SCAMMERS AND PROTECT YOURSELF 





Online dating site scams often end with people losing money and, in some cases,
even being pulled into criminal activity. Besides the financial costs, there may
be emotional costs, too. You may feel heartbroken, depressed, or embarrassed
after someone you trusted scammed you.  

That's why it's important to know how to outsmart a romance scammer and how to
act fast if you think you’ve been scammed. 


1. BE AWARE OF THE WARNING SIGNS

Simply knowing how a romance scammer operates can help you identify and avoid
one. Remember some of the red flags and lies online romance scammers tell:      
  

 * They’re far, far away.
 * Their profile seems too good to be true.
 * The relationship moves fast.
 * They break promises to visit.
 * They claim they need money.
 * They ask for specific payment methods.


2. EVALUATE YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE

A few basic cybersecurity best practices can help protect you against internet
scams. The more you share, the more dating site scammers know about you — and
know how to lure you.  

For this reason, consider keeping your online dating profiles anonymous by using
different usernames on sites or even different emails to protect your privacy.
Also, be careful what you make public on social media.


3. APPROACH ONLINE RELATIONSHIPS SLOWLY

The internet can be an incredible place for community, developing friendships,
and sometimes even relationships. But it’s always important to take these
relationships slowly, vet your new companions thoroughly, and be wary if answers
don’t add up.


4. SET UP A PHONE OR VIDEO CHAT EARLY

Seeing someone’s face can be a surefire way to determine whether they’re real or
fake. For this reason, set up a phone or video chat early on in your
communications with an online love interest. If they dodge the opportunity, they
may be a romance scammer.


5. DON’T SEND COMPROMISING PICTURES

It's important to protect yourself online, so never send compromising photos or
videos of yourself to someone, especially if you haven’t met them in person.
These could be used as blackmail later.


6. DO YOUR OWN SNOOPING, LIKE A REVERSE IMAGE SEARCH

In the age of social media and online dating, everyone has a digital presence
waiting to be viewed. Do your homework on your cyber sweetheart by viewing their
social media profiles. If their profile is bare or they have no connections,
take it a step further with a reverse image search to see if their photos are on
other sites. To do this:

 * Right click an image of the person.
 * Click “Copy.”
 * Visit images.google.com and paste the image.  

Google will show you the websites where the image appears online. If it shows up
on a stock photo site or seems to belong to someone else entirely, then it could
be part of a scam.


7. NEVER PAY SOMEONE YOU HAVEN’T MET, ESPECIALLY SOMEONE ONLINE

Don't give out your financial information, top off a cash reload card, or send
gifts or money to someone you haven't met face to face. Never wire money to a
stranger or pay anyone with gift cards.


8. IF THEY ASK YOU FOR HELP, REFER THEM ELSEWHERE

Especially if your other cyber half is located outside of the U.S., be sure to
refer them to a U.S. consulate or embassy if they ask for help or money. It’s a
reasonable response, since authorities would be able to provide better help,
especially if you just met them.


9. ASK SOMEONE YOU TRUST FOR A SECOND OPINION

When your emotions run deeply with someone, it’s hard to face the reality that
they’re not who you think they are. If you ever have an inkling that you’re
caught up in an online dating scam, step back and ask a trusted friend or family
member to give a second opinion about your relationship. They may see some
warning signs of a romance scammer you didn’t.


10. STOP COMMUNICATING AND REPORT THE INCIDENT

If you’re suspicious or sure that you’re being scammed, cut off communication
immediately and report the activity. Always consider the possibility of it being
a scam, even if you contacted them first. 


HOW TO REPORT AN ONLINE DATING SCAM 

It may be nearly impossible to recover money after you've been scammed. But
reporting these incidents helps federal investigators look for commonalities and
may help lead them to perpetrators.  

For these reasons, take the following steps if you suspect you’ve been
scammed:        

 1. Contact your bank right away if you’ve sent a romance scammer money.
 2. Collect any records you have of your online relationship, including
    conversations and transactions.
 3. File a police report. 
 4. Report the incident to:         

 * The FTC
 * The FBI
 * The dating site if the scam started there


20+ ONLINE DATING SCAM STATISTICS AND TRENDS





The unfortunate truth is that too many people have been part of a love story
that never ends happily ever after. Some of the proof is in these online dating
scam statistics.


ROMANCE SCAMS ON THE RISE

Both loneliness and the development of new technologies have contributed to the
rise of online romance scams in recent years.        

 1. In 2021, more than a third of those who reported financial losses due to
    online romance scams indicated the fraud started on Facebook or Instagram.
    (FTC, January 2022)
 2. More than 36,000 people reported that social media was the medium or tool
    used to facilitate online crimes.
    (FBI, 2021 Internet Crime Report)
 3. The number of romance scams people reported to the FTC in 2021 was more than
    three times the amount reported in 2017. (FTC, February 2022)
 4. In 2021, more than 55,000 consumers filed a report with the FTC about
    romance scams.
    (FTC, February 2022)
 5. More than 24,000 people fell for confidence/romance scams in 2021. (FBI,
    2021 Internet Crime Report)


ROMANCE SCAMS ARE GETTING COSTLIER 

Internet romance scams can affect your emotional well-being and sense of trust
and can also be costly and  irreversible.  

 1. More than any other FTC fraud category, individuals have reported losing an
    incredible $1.3 billion to  romance scams in the last five years. (FTC,
    February 2022)
 2. In 2021, people reported losing $547 million to romance scams. That’s more
    than six times higher than it  was four years prior, at $87 million in 2017.
    (FTC, February 2022)
 3. In 2021, the median individual amount loss to a romance scam was reportedly
    $2,400. (FTC, February 2022)
 4. The reported financial losses due to romance scams increased by nearly 80%
    from 2020 to 2021.
    (FTC,  February 2022)
 5. Confidence/romance scams cost individuals nearly $1 billion in 2021, the
    third highest internet crime loss.
    (FBI, 2021 Internet Crime Report)


OLDER ADULTS ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE 

Dating scams can happen with people of all ages but are especially risky for
older adults.       

 1. Romance scams are riskiest to people in the 55-64 age group. (BBB 2020
    Scam Tracker Risk Report) 
 2. Older adults reportedly lost nearly $139 million in romance scams in 2020,
    followed by prizes, sweepstakes, and lottery scams at $69 million. (FTC
    2020-2021 Protecting Older Consumers Report)
 3. In 2020, 68% of the dollars reported lost on romance scams by older adults
    were sent by wire transfer.
    (FTC 2020-2021 Protecting Older Consumers Report)
 4. Bank transfers and payments sent in connection with romance scams accounted
    for about $31 million, nearly a third of the dollars older adults reported
    romance scam losses.
    (FTC 2020-2021 Protecting Older Consumers Report) 
 5. Romance scammers reportedly took an additional $12 million total in
    cryptocurrency from older adults.
    (FTC 2020-2021 Protecting Older Consumers Report)


WOMEN ARE ALSO MORE SUSCEPTIBLE 

Online dating scams happen all over the world, but certain demographics tend to
be more susceptible.

 1. Romance scams have a 36% susceptibility risk to their targets. (BBB 2021
    Scam Tracker Risk Report)
 2. Women are more susceptible to romance scams than men. And following online
    purchase scams, romance scams are the second riskiest scam type to women.
    (BBB 2020 Scam Tracker Risk Report) 
 3. Californians lost the most to dating scams in 2021 at nearly $184 million.
    (FBI, 2021 State Report)
 4. Californians were the most caught up in confidence/romance scams in 2020,
    with more than 3,000 people scammed. (FBI, 2021 State Report)


STALKERWARE IS TRENDING UP

Some people associate the use of stalkerware, a software that enables someone to
monitor a person's device without their knowledge, with romance scams. But the
two are distinctly different. Romance scams are designed to trick you for
financial gain from afar. Stalkerware is used by someone close to you or in a
relationship with you to spy on you, and it could lead to harm. Like romance
scams, stalkerware is also on the rise.  

 1. 86% of adults are unaware of stalkerware or have only heard the name.
    (2021 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report)
 2. Around 42% of younger Americans from ages 18-39 who currently have a
    romantic partner believe their partner is at least somewhat likely to
    download an application to monitor their activity.
    (2021 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report)
 3. 3 in 5 Gen Z and millennial Americans ages 18-39 have admitted to stalking
    an ex or current partner online.
    (2021 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report)
 4. There was a 63% uptick in the number of devices infected with stalkerware,
    amounting to more than  250,000 compromised devices per month, between
    September 2020 and May 2021.
    (2021 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report)
 5. Men are three times more likely than women to use invasive apps to spy on a
    significant other.
    (2021  Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report)
 6. More than one-third of Americans ages 18-39 believe it is harmless to stalk
    a current or former partner online. (2021 Norton Cyber Safety Insights
    Report)  

Falling in love can be great. But before you let someone steal your heart
online, keep these romance scam warning signs and online dating pointers top of
mind.  

After all, you don’t want your love story to end in a cybercrime —
everyone deserves a happily ever after.







CYBER THREATS HAVE EVOLVED, AND SO HAVE WE.


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