A Knight in lying armour: Romance scams and how you can protect yourself
It’s your lucky day… a random, wealthy and handsome prince from a faraway country has chosen YOU to help him move his funds.
After a bit of talking, you start to feel close to this person. They are even willing to share some of their millions with you – but first they need you to send some funds of your own to have it released.
You send them the money and never hear from them again.
Think you’ve heard this tale before and could never fall victim? Australian’s losing more than $40 million in 2022 to dating and romance scams tells us otherwise. Remaining vigilant to catfishing and deception scams has never been more important.
According to the eSafety Commissioner – catfishing is, “When someone pretends to be someone they’re not by using social media to create a false identity, usually to defraud or scam someone else.”
It’s a type of scam which preys on unsuspecting people to take money from them over time – leaving victims financially ruined and grieving the loss of what they thought was a genuine relationship.
Crime Stoppers Victoria chief executive Stella Smith explains it is important to look out for red flags while speaking with people online.
“Scammers often target the vulnerable, blur the lines of reality and make it difficult to prove who they say they are,” she said.
“If you’re speaking to someone online who you think might be deceiving you and sounds too good to be true, you’re probably right.
“It’s important to be wary of anyone you meet online, especially if you’re unable to verify their identity.”
– Stella Smith
While it might seem easy to spot for some, for those using dating apps and social media to search for love, it can sometimes get a little more complicated.
And for those in long-term online relationships – the lines can get even blurrier.
Partnering with BankVic, here are some signs of what catfishing might look like, and what you can do if you feel you’re being catfished.
- Their chatting and behaviour doesn’t match their profile. Check for hobbies and inconsistent images.
- They seem to know a lot about you and are strangely interested in all the same things as you.
- They ask for your photos or live videos but never provide their own. They use excuses like a broken webcam, making it impossible to verify their identity. Be wary that images can be edited!
How to avoid being catfished
If it all feels too good to be true, the chances are it probably is.
Remember to stay alert when someone contacts you out of the blue and trust your gut instincts. If their story doesn’t add up, your suspicions might be right. Share your experience with friends and family to see if they too think something isn’t feeling right.
Keep an eye out for warning signs
Does the person seem overly familiar with your life? Are they pressuring you for nudes or other explicit content? Did they randomly appear out of the blue as a dream partner or friend? Don’t share anything too personal with them until you’ve done our next tip – some online investigating.
Do your own online investigating
If you’re unsure about the person you’re talking to, you can always do a little of your own detective work. Try doing a reverse image search on google to verify their picture – for those that know how to use the google lens app, this would produce the same result.
Often, if you’re being catfished or deceived, the search will show the person pictured is actually a famous figure who has no idea their likeness has been used illegally.
You might also find the image is connected to other different names and online profiles.
To investigate further, you should check out their presence on other social media platforms. If they have very few friends, haven’t posted much or are never tagged in photos – it’s possible they are a catfish.
Finally – review your privacy settings and manage your digital footprint
Many of the things we put on the internet are permanent – and if you haven’t managed your privacy settings on each platform, there’s a chance those looking to deceive or catfish you have access to your private information.
On each social media or dating platform you use, take some time to review your privacy settings and ensure your photos and information is not available to those looking to cause harm.
If you feel someone might be trying to catfish or deceive you, always take a screenshot, report them, or block them on the platform. If you haven’t familiarised yourself with how to do this – ensure you do on the platforms app or website, or ask someone that can help.
A quick google search of your own name and information can sometimes let you know how much of your personal information is on the internet and how big your digital footprint really is.
For more information
On how to keep yourself safe online, visit esafety.gov.au.
To report a scam visit scamwatch.gov.au.
This article is presented to all Victorians by Crime Stoppers in partnership with BankVic. For more information, podcasts and articles as part of our continued series of content supported by BankVic, please Click Here.
