February 14, 2022
Carson City, NV – Attorney
General Aaron D. Ford advises Nevadans to be on alert for internet-based scams
that prey upon individuals seeking companionship or romantic relationships,
commonly known as “romance scams.” In a romance scam, the perpetrator gains the
target’s trust by creating a relationship with them – whether it be as a friend
or as a romantic partner. The scammer uses various mediums to initiate contact,
including social media platforms, dating apps, other websites and email.
“Romance scams account for higher financial
losses than any other internet-based scam,” said AG Ford. “During this Valentine’s Day season, I urge Nevadans
to protect their hearts and their banks from these scammers.”
The fraudster in a romance scam will patiently
build the relationship over weeks or even months before striking. After gaining
the target’s trust and affection, the scammer uses the relationship to attempt
to acquire money and/or other personal information from the victim. This is
usually done by the scammer creating some sort of emergency situation and
urgently requesting the victim to send money or gift cards, often utilizing
guilt or shame as a tactic. This request for money will often start out in
small amounts and increase once the scammer knows the victim has been hooked.
Individuals looking for love or companionship
are the ideal victims for these perpetrators. People ages 65+ and people who
have recently been divorced or widowed are often targets for romance
scams.
Education about scams is often the best
defense to being scammed. As part of the Attorney General’s consumer education
and outreach, AG Ford will participate in a tele-town hall event with AARP of
Nevada at on February 23 at 9:00 a.m. The discussion will focus on romance
scams, and participants will have the opportunity to call in and ask questions
related to this scam as well as gain valuable information about spotting and
preventing these scammers.
While
this tele-town hall is only open to Nevada AARP members, learning about this type
of scam and ways to protect yourself is important for all Nevadans. Audio of
the event will be available for AARP members after the tele-town hall has
concluded.
The Office of the Nevada Attorney General
recommends the following tips to protect yourself from romance scams:
- Do not give money, credit card access or other personal
information or documents to people you meet online;
- Avoid any situation where a person asks for an up-front
payment via money order, wire transfer, pre-paid card or cryptocurrency;
- Always consider the possibility that a person might be
trying to scam you. Try to remove emotion from your decision-making
process when communicating to anyone you meet online;
- Speak to family members or someone you trust before
taking any drastic measures in an online relationship;
- Use online search engines to research the person’s photo
and profile. Sometimes scammers will reuse a fake photo or profile
information from another online source;
- Beware if the individual seems too perfect or quickly
asks you to leave a dating service or Facebook to go “offline”;
- Be cautious about sharing intimate photos or giving
information that could be used as blackmail;
- Be wary if the individual you met online attempts to
isolate you from friends and family;
- Be skeptical if the person you met online promises to
meet in person but has excuse after excuse for why he or she cannot meet
you; and
- Be careful about how much information you disclose on
social media and dating apps – these scammers often research their victims
and use the information they find online to ascertain your vulnerabilities
and lure you into an unwanted relationship.
If you have
been a victim of a romance scam, you may file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the Office of the Nevada Attorney General. Include
as much information as possible with your complaint, including any information
you have about the person that contacted you such as social media accounts,
names and phone numbers.
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