Authored by Jill McLaughlin via The Epoch Times(emphasis ours),
Love is in the air, but it might be too good to be true for some hopeful romantics searching for love online,according to the FBI.
The FBI warned dating app surfers ahead of Valentine’s Day to beware of criminals using romance scams.
“The criminals who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable,” the FBI said in a statement on Feb. 11. “Con artists are present on most dating and social media sites.”
Scammers want to establish a relationship as quickly as possible, endearing themselves to their victims to gain trust, according to the FBI.
The scammers may propose marriage and make plans to meet in person, but that never happens. Then, they ask for money, the FBI said.
The con artists often claim they work in the building-and-construction industry and are based outside the United States.
“That makes it easier to avoid meeting in person—and more plausible when they ask for money for a medical emergency or unexpected legal fee,” the FBI stated.
If someone asks to meet online and needs bank account information or asks to deposit money, they are most likely using the account information to carry out theft or fraud schemes, the FBI warned.
In one case, Glenda, 81, fell for an online romance scam and landed in custody charged with federal crimes, according to a video on the FBI’s YouTube channel.
Source: ZeroHedge News
