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Scammers and fraudsters are constantly evolving their techniques to become more cunning and sophisticated to deceive unsuspecting victims. This is especially true for those looking for a romantic holiday connection.
Scammers often target single individuals searching for someone to share the festive season with, exploiting them by pretending to be a romantic interest.
Their ultimate goal is usually financial gain, as they tease out money or personal information from their marks over time, often creating a false sense of trust before asking for anything. They may also request online payments for goods or services which never arrive, coerce people into investing in non-existent stock, or send fraudulent links that will install malicious software on the victim’s device.
In many cases, those perpetrating these scams use false identities built around carefully crafted stories designed to create an emotional bond with the victim. They may even use pictures stolen from social media profiles to appear genuine.
Since holiday romance scams can play out over a longer time than other types of fraud, victims can give away more information and money than usual before realising what has happened.
To combat this scam, the Australian Competition Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Scamwatch program encourages consumers to look out for warning signs such as requests for money up front or offers too good to be true.
“All consumers need to exercise caution when dealing with companies by phone or online,” ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said.
It is essential to always do your research before engaging with anyone online and be wary of any requests that seem odd or suspicious. Suppose you’ve been scammed during the holiday season. In that case, it is important not to feel embarrassed: reporting it as soon as possible can help prevent others from falling prey in future and ensure that those behind the scam are brought to justice.
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