Impersonation
Romance Scams
Criminals create fake profiles on dating sites and social media to form relationships with people, building trust before asking for money.
How It Works
- The scammer creates a very appealing but fake online identity.
- They quickly profess strong feelings and try to move the conversation off the dating platform to private chat or email.
- Over weeks or months, they build an emotional connection and gain your trust.
- Eventually, they will invent a fake emergency (medical issue, travel problem, business crisis) and ask you for money, often via wire transfer or gift cards.
Red Flags
- Their online profile seems too good to be true.
- They profess love very quickly.
- They consistently have excuses for not meeting in person or on video call.
- Their stories have inconsistencies.
- Any request for money, especially for an emergency.
Prevention Tips
- Be cautious about sharing personal information online.
- Do a reverse image search of their profile picture to see if it has been used elsewhere.
- Never send money or financial details to someone you have only met online.
- Talk to trusted friends or family about your online relationships.
Example Scenario
"An online love interest you've been talking to for a month suddenly says their child has a medical emergency and they need $2,000 for surgery, promising to pay you back as soon as they can."