Tips to protect yourself against romance scams š”ļøā¤ļø
Online dating offers a convenient way to find a romantic partner, but it’s also a popular way for criminals to take advantage of people looking for love. Even those not actively searching for a partner can get caught up in a romance scam through unexpected messages on social media.
According to Scamwatch, in 2022 there were nearly 3,700 reported romance scam cases which cost Australians more than $40 million.* Many romance scams go unreported due to how traumatic it is for the victims, so the real number of victims is expected to be much higher. There has also been an increase in romance scams targeting younger Australians.
Understanding how to spot the signs can go a long way in helping to protect you, your family or a friend.
Ways to minimise the chance of being scammed
Stop before you act
Scammers often use attractive photos of someone else in their profile and may claim they’ve fallen in love almost immediately. So if someone seems too good to be true, especially if they ask for money, stop to consider ‘could this be a scam?’.
Check before you share
After meeting someone online, do an internet search for their name, along with the word ‘scam’, to see if they’ve been reported on scam sites. Also, do a ‘reverse image search’ of their photos to see if they’ve been used by other people, which means it might be a scam.
Protect if you suspect
Act quickly if something doesn’t feel right. If you or a loved one has sent money as part of a romance scam, report it to your financial institution, the police, the dating or social media platform and the Australian Government’s ReportCyber website at cyber.gov.au/acsc/report.
Spot the red flags
No face-to-face contact. A scammer might say it’s hard to meet up because they travel for business or live overseas. If they agree to use video chat, they may try to hide their identity by using low-quality videos or claim to have bad internet connection.
A sense of urgency. Scammers may request money for a personal financial emergency, such as a sick relative. Never send money to someone you’ve met online, as it’s difficult to recover after it’s been sent.
Investment opportunities. Some scammers encourage people to invest in assets like cryptocurrency, leading many to lose their life savings. Unlike traditional romance scams, investment scammers often gain the trust of someone over a longer period.
Being asked to accept payments and send them onwards. This could make someone an unwitting participant in criminal activity. That’s why our bankers may ask questions like, ‘What’s the purpose of your transfer?’ ā it can help identify if a customer is involved in a scam.
Typical profile and actions of a Scammer
Signs that someone is communicating with a scammer may include:
- claiming to be a non-Australian citizen
- claiming to work for the government, army or an aid organisation
- claiming to work overseas
- professing to fall in love almost immediately
- poor grammar and spelling for someone who claims to be a native English speaker
- asking to communicate by email rather than through a dating or social media site
Consider the following questions if you are unsure
Here is a basic checklist of questions to ask yourself each time you meet someone online. Especially if you are a little unsure about your new friend. A combination of these red flags could indicate a friend or relative is involved in a scam:
- your relationship started online
- you have never met the person face to face
- you have not seen the person via Skype, webcam or video chat
- if you have spoken on the phone, itās rare and the calls are brief
- they fall in love within weeks, if not days of talking
- you are becoming secretive of the relationship and donāt want to discuss it (you may be unknowingly coached not to share too many details with your friends or family)
- there has been a request for money.
- you receive āinvestment adviceā, in particular involving cryptocurrency or similar
Next steps
If you begin to realise you may be involved in a romance scam, there are a number of options to consider:
- Speak with your friend or family member to share your concerns
- Visit the Scamwatch website, opens in new window together to point out the similarities between their relationship and the case studies
- Google the scammerās name to see if theyāve been reported on any scam sites
- Do a reverse Google image search of any photos theyāve sent, as they may already be on scam reporting sites. Watch 3 min video on reverse Google image search
- If you have given away personal details, contact IDCARE. IDCARE is a free victim support service that can help you recover your identity and understand steps you can take to protect yourself. Phone their helpline on 1800 595 160 or visit the IDCARE website, opens in new window to find out more. NAB sponsors IDCARE and if you are a NAB customer, let them know and you will get prioritised support
- If you have already sent money, you should report it to the police, ReportCyber, opens in new window and their bank
