Josh was convinced he had met his soul mate online. Her name was Sophia, and their bond felt like something out of the movies. Slowly but surely, her requests for money began week after week—first, small amounts, then more significant sums, citing one emergency after the next. By the time Josh realized she was lying and had started taking advantage of him, he had lost a good amount of fortune. 

Josh became a victim of a romance scam in which cybercriminals used fake identities to capture the emotions and wallets of their targets. Given the increasing incidence of online dating scams, it is appropriate to take extra measures to protect yourself from such schemes.

This blog will uncover how to spot and avoid these traps while tools like AVP Total Security can keep your heart and finances safe. 

Let’s dive in!

What Are Romance Scams?

Romance scams (or online dating scams) involve cybercriminals using fake identities to create an emotional or romantic relationship with their victims. Once sufficient trust has been established, the offenders will attempt to exploit the victim for money, personal information, or access to institutional data that can extract sensitive data. 

Did you know that, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in 2023, victims lost over $1.3 billion to romance scams? 

These scams are among the most common forms of online fraud, with cybercriminals preying on feelings to steal money and private data. 

The increased number of online dating apps and social media has provided scammers with new opportunities to target unsuspecting people. From fake dating websites to picture scams, their methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

So,  let’s dive into the world of romance scams and how to stay protected. 

Stay tuned!

Types of Romance Scams

Scammers use a variety of tactics to deceive their victims. Here are the most common types:

1. Fake Profiles and Identities

The prime romance scam type prefers to use fake profiles and identities. Cybercriminals build counterfeit profiles on social media or dating apps, regularly using stolen photographs and information. They are attractive, successful, or emotionally available to gain trust.

2. Photo Scams

Scammers might also ask for intimate or personal photos, which they later use for blackmail or identification theft.

3. Money Requests

Once trust is established, scammers often fabricate emergencies—such as a medical crisis or financial trouble—and ask for money. This frequently involves credit card fraud or wire transfers.

4. Fake Dating Sites

Some scammers operate on fraudulent dating platforms designed to steal users’ data or infect their devices with malware scams.

Related Read: Date Safely While Securing Your Data & Heart with AVP Suite!

How Do Romance Scams Work?

Romance scams often follow a predictable pattern:

1. Establishing Contact: The criminals contact the victims through dating apps, social media, or email, seeking to develop a bond. 
2. Building Trust: They may convey an invented story to create trust and appear sincere.
3. Exploiting Emotions: Once the victim has developed trust, the criminals proceed to ask for funds and personal information or encourage the victim to download physical files exposing their privacy. 
4. Vanishing Act: Once the victim is exploited emotionally and financially, the scammers proceed to vanish. 

Warning Signs of Romance Scams

Recognizing the warning signs of a social media scam or online dating fraud is crucial. Here’s what to watch out for:

• Quick Professions of Love: The scammers also habitually express their emotions quickly to manipulate their victims emotionally.
• Reluctance to Meet in Person: Who makes excuses for loving someone but will not video call or meet in person?  They will always refer to distance or issues as reasons for not meeting in person.
• Requests for Money: Be cautious of requests to send funds by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency. Any request for money should raise suspicions and questions. 
• Inconsistencies in Their Stories: There will always be discrepancies or inconsistencies in the individual’s history, location, or personal information does not evolve or grow, there are inconsistencies.
• Overly Perfect Profiles: Do their profiles appear too perfect? If so, it is possible that what you read on their profile is not theirs and could have been duplicated from someone who did exist.

Read More: Top 9 Best Practices to Strengthen Your Cybersecurity

The Cost of Romance Scams

Romance scams don’t just cost victims emotionally; the financial losses are staggering. According to the FTC, romance scams cost Americans over $547 million in 2021, with victims losing an average of $9,000 per incident. These scams also contribute to widespread identity theft, leaving victims vulnerable to further fraud.

With cybercriminals using more state-of-the-art techniques, protecting online privacy has never been more critical. 

Tools like AVP Total Security provide complete solutions for malware, phishing attempts and identity protection.

Stat Alert: According to a report, one in three Americans has been a victim of identity theft, which shows the reasoning behind investing in online privacy protection services.

Tips to Avoid Romance Scams

To protect yourself against romance scams, you must know how to identify scams and good cybersecurity practices. Here are a few points to defend yourself:

1. Verify Their Identity

Search reverse image pictures of their profile photo to see if it’s been used elsewhere.

2. Avoid Sharing Sensitive Information

Be skeptical about sharing your financial details or personal information. This ensures your data remains confidential. 

3. Be Skeptical of Money Requests

If you get frequent money requests, it’s time to be alert.

4. Use a Secure Internet Connection

If you meet someone new in your life and they ask you for money, then it’s a red flag. A real relationship doesn’t demand money frequently.

5. Stay Alert for Malware Scams

Nobody should click suspicious links or download files sent by someone they don’t know. This keeps your devices safe from malware.

6. Report Suspicious Profiles

Please report any scammed profile you meet. This saves others from being the next victim. 

Also Read: How to Spot and Avoid Gift Card Scams: Unmasking Gift Card Scams!

How AVP Suite Helps in Protecting Your Data and Heart

As romance scams are increasing, you must have a vigilant tool, like AVP Suite, that provides you with 360-degree protection from romance scams. This allows you to fall and be in love safely while avoiding being scammed and securing your emotions.

 Here’s how:

• Digital Identity and Login Protection: AVP Suite ensures your online identity is secure, shielding you from identity theft and fake identity schemes used in romance scams.

• Fraud Protection: The superior fraud detection system identifies and stops credit card fraud and any monetary scams initiated by cybercriminals. 
• Phishing Attack Defense: AVP Suite prevents phishing attempts, including malicious links from fake dating profiles or social media platforms. 
• Secure VPN:  Using AVP Suite’s AVP VPN to secure online activity and personal information would thus ensure privacy in the connection with others worldwide.
• Browser Protection: Avoid fake dating sites and malicious photo scams with AVP’s secure browser, which blocks harmful websites and suspicious links.

Stay safe in your online interactions and guard both your data and emotions with AVP Total Security. Don’t let cybercriminals break your heart or your security—protect yourself today!

Final Thoughts!

Romans scams are sharp reminders of the brutality of cybercriminals and exploitation in using trust and emotions for financial gain. To protect oneself from these scams, one must always be alert of the warning signals and take proactive steps for identity protection. 

With AVP Total Security, your online activities are safe. Whether dealing with a fake dating site or a malware scam, remember to prioritize data privacy for internet security against identity theft.

Ready to secure your online world? Get AVP Total Security and love without worry!