A romance scam is when one person forms an online pseudo-romantic relationship with another in an effort to try to swindle money out of them. The victims believe that they are in an actual relationship, only to later find that they have been conned. The lucky ones are those that realized what was happening before actually losing any of their money.
Someone that is trying to pull off a romance scam will contact another person by email, through a dating website or by any other means of communication via the internet. This person then works on forming a friendship with the hopes of it eventually leading to a pseudo-romantic relationship. In some cases, the transition from one level to the other is extremely quick and the victim believes that he or she is involved in a whirlwind romance. The scammer then makes the move for money, and in some cases, actually gets it.
It is important to beware of getting involved in a romance scam when talking to someone on the internet. The scammer may use sweet talk to get you to fall in love with him or her and can make promises of a future together that he or she has no intention of keeping. Some actually go as far as to propose marriage to keep you entangled in their lies. These people know how to prey on emotions and feelings and have no qualms about taking advantage of you to get what they want.
When trying to pull off a romance scam, elaborate excuses are used by the scammer in an effort to try to get you to send money. He or she could ask for money for plane tickets to come and see you, only to never show up and explain how the tickets weren’t refundable. In some cases, the scammers even use the excuses that they are having problems paying for bills or are in a desperate medical situation and need the money. The requests for money are often followed by the promise to pay back every cent. Whether they ask for your bank account information, for money to be wired, or for cash or a money order to be sent these are signs that the person you are speaking with isn’t who they say they are.
One way to avoid getting entangled in a romance scam is to be incredibly cautious of your activity online. If someone is asking for money, chances are that you’re never going to see a dime of it back again. You should never send money, no matter what reasons are given for needing it. In addition, your personal information should be kept private, as it can be used by the scammers to gain access to your money, whether or not their requests are initially complied with.
Should you realize that someone is trying to run a romance scam on you, immediately report him or her to the authorities. Cease any communication with this person and any incoming correspondence should be blocked. While love can be a beautiful thing, there are those that try to take advantage of emotions and a kind heart for their own agenda.
