Romance and Dating Scams: How to Protect your Money (and Heart)
Finding love in 2022 can be challenging. While we’ve never been more connected to the internet, moments of human connection are few and far between during the pandemic. As a result, millions of Australians are going online in search of ‘The One’ and, unfortunately, some are finding scammers instead.
In December 2021, more than $9,000,000 was lost to romance and dating scams online. Men and women aged 55-64 were overwhelmingly targeted, losing over $7,000,000, according to the ACCC’s Scamwatch. Given how widely used dating apps are, it might not come as a surprise that social networking and mobile apps were among the most cyber-criminals trapped their victims.
Financial losses aside, romance and dating scams can take a significant emotional toll on victims. Detective Superintendent Jane Welsh from the Victoria Police Cybercrime Division explained that offenders often go to great lengths to build trust with their target.
“One example might be that a criminal will befriend somebody on one of these dating sites. They will portray themselves as someone in desperate need… looking for support… and initially it will be reasonably benign support; emotional support,” Det. Supt. Welsh told Crime Stoppers Victoria during last year’s Let’s Talk Scams podcast in partnership with BankVic.
“It inevitably leads to a request for money…these are really quite distressing forms of offending. Not just for the people who fall victim, but for their families and the community more generally.”
To protect yourself and loved ones (and your money) from romance and dating scams:
💔 Beware of fake profiles on dating apps and websites. Grammar mistakes and poor spelling in messages, and profile images inconsistent with the way the dater describes themselves.
💔 Avoid sending money, bank account details, or personal documents to someone you haven’t met in person.
💔 Don’t agree to transfer money for someone else.
💔 Try to remove emotion from your decision-making processes.
💔 Talk to a trusted friend or family member about your new online relationship. They might notice potential red flags that you haven’t.
💔If you’ve transferred money or provided your account details to someone you suspect might be a scammer, it’s important to contact your bank or financial institution immediately. BankVic members can reach out here.
For more helpful advice to protect yourself and your family online, be sure to follow Crime Stoppers Victoria and BankVic on social media so you don’t miss a beat of our Online Safety Series 2022.
