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Aussies looking for love in the cyber platforms should be vigilant as scammers are scheming to lure the vulnerable.
Before Valentine’s Day, NAB News cautioned anyone looking for a date online or through social media, noting that there had been a 17% spike in romance scams in the previous year. Maybe more and more fraudsters are getting inspired by Netflix’s Tinder Swindler series.
In these frauds, con artists pose as sweethearts looking for love and contact victims via text messages, social media platforms, or dating apps. The swindlers strive to win the victim’s trust before requesting, convincing, or pressuring them to give money.
According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, romance scams cost Australians more than $142 million in 2021.
While many long-lasting relationships began online, Chris Sheehan of the NAB Executive Group Investigations and Fraud said knowing how to distinguish a fraudster from a potential partner was crucial.
“These criminals prey on people looking to find love around Valentine’s Day, and it’s devastating to see the effects romance scams can have on people, which can be both financial and emotional,” Mr Sheehan said.
“It’s important to ask lots of questions of your would-be Romeo or Juliet. Scammers prefer to talk about you instead of themselves, so look for inconsistencies in their stories and speak to family and friends about the relationship.
One of the ways to check if the person is legitimate is to reverse image search the photos they are sending to you, whether they are linked to someone else’s personal data or not. Australians should not hinder themselves from finding true love; vigilance, logic, and decisiveness are still essential to avoid falling into these love scams.
However, if somebody has been a victim to these scams, please do not hesitate to contact your bank as soon as possible.
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