Regardless of how you are scammed, you could end up losing a lot of money. Online dating and romance scams cheat Australians out of millions every year. The money you send to scammers is almost always impossible to recover and, in addition, you may feel long-lasting emotional betrayal at the hands of someone you thought loved you. If you think you have been scammed, report it to the website, app, or social media site where the scammer first approached you. If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.
We encourage you to report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page. This helps us to warn people about current scams, monitor trends and disrupt scams where possible. Please include details of the scam contact you received, for example, email or screenshot. We also provide guidance on protecting yourself from scams and where to get help.
Phishing Phishing scams are attempts by scammers to trick you into giving out your personal information such as your bank account numbers, passwords and credit card numbers. Identity theft is a type of fraud that involves using someone else's identity to steal money or gain other benefits. These scams offer you the false promise of an inheritance to trick you into parting with your money or sharing your bank or credit card details.
Dating & romance
While these scams originated in Nigeria, they now come from all over the world. Skip to Content Skip to Sitemap. Enter a search term. Home Types of scams Listen. How this scam works Warning signs Protect yourself Have you been scammed?
How to Avoid a Romance Scam When Using Online Dating Sites
All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story. Just over a year ago, the Department of Justice announced that seven men—six from Nigeria and one from South Africa—had pleaded guilty to conning tens of millions of dollars from Americans via online dating sites. According to the FBI, romance scams and similar confidence scams cost consumers more money than any other kind of Internet fraud. The FBI says it may be embarrassing for victims to report this type of fraud scheme because of the personal relationships that are developed, so the real numbers are probably higher.
As one result, fear of a horrible first date is just one of the things a would-be online dater has to worry about.
Eventually a pitch for money comes. Often the scammer will say an emergency situation has arisen and money is needed fast to avoid dire consequences. This makes it hard for the victim to do due diligence. The scammer might say that an immediate family member has a medical emergency and needs money for treatment, or that he has been wrongly arrested and needs help with bail money and legal support.
Copy the images your online correspondent has posted to his or her profile, then run them through a reverse-image search engine, such as TinEye or Google Images. The website Scamalytics maintains a blacklist of scammers who use false pictures. A little online stalking can go a long way.
In our online dating survey, 12 percent of people say they were conned
Type the name of the person you met online into Google or Bing and see what comes up. He has sent me 3 gifts from Shutterfly with a picture of him and his daughter. Your advice tells me it might be a scam.
FG Fred Gerrior 6 days ago. Stout Jun 6, I am currently playing along with a scammer who is pretending to be a beautiful woman who is very much in love with me. But had to go take care of mum in Africa.
She says I'm so handsome I'm not and wants to see me in person and hear me. But her cell phone seems to be faulty and her old laptop doesn't have a built in camera. She wants me to send money to buy one via her money transfer account. I told her I'm doing a background check. She keeps on trying. Really appreciated the tip about the Google Search image. It identified a man who said he was Roden Miller actually Jeffrey Miller as a scammer. He said he was a widower with a 14 year old son. He is in the army stationed in Houston Texas but is currently on a peacekeeping mission in Libya but would be returning soon.
Avoid a Romance Scam When Using Dating Sites - Consumer Reports
He friend requested me on FaceBook. DB Dawn Burton Jun 17, I refuse to give my number or email and insist on staying on that site. I also enjoy toying with these scammers with elaborate stories of wealth, success, and loneliness. This keeps them busy from victimizing another. SA Sarah Anderson Sep 4, ST Suzanne Taylor Oct 19, Met a man, ages similar. He was well-educated and spoke with a beautiful French accent.
Scammers are good at making you believe that you are the one. Probably gave out information that I shouldn't have. He got no money. Claire Sep 7, TT Tracy Turner Aug 5, I didn't start asking the right questions until it was too late for me and my money. Please take the time to read this and also take the advice given very seriously on the dating sites. SA Stephen Austin May 17, Warning about using terms of endearment very early on in communication was also helpful.
I'd like to add that scammers often send quite lengthy, detailed messages at first. Phillips Feb 23, Also learned don't tell him you love him not before you meet him in person! JN Jackie No Sep 7, Sadly, I gave too much info and I believe out of three, two are fakes and likely the other guy I liked texts and talks at all hours supposedly when he was overseas? He had my telephone number but I didn't have his!
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PD Patricia Dickenson Jan 1, Things that have been said ring true! I just hope other ladies do not get trapped, it is as has been said: DO David Obrien May 18, Some first hand advice about a couple of sites.
I have proven it many times. Thankfully, I am smart, no money was exchanged. ML Mili Lee May 5, Saved me from a scammer trying to me a parcel from the U. After reading this, I told him, "I won't be able to pay". AS Ann Smith Jul 12, I might have continued the relationship; I'm grateful for the advice. FF Felicidad Ferro Aug 24, I now know I stupidly fell for a scammer from the UK.
Thanks for your help. I now know what I need to do.
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TA Toni Alexander Jul 20, I only wish I had done research on this previously because I was scammed. I have spoken to numerous scammers on each dating site I have tried. MK Missy Kuhn Jul 10, This was very informative. Glad I found it so I can help my friend who I suspected was getting herself into a dating scam.
CB Claire Brown Jun 23, I have done a lot of studying about scammers, this was new. PW Pam Walker Jun 27, Just what you said scammers do step by step I see, but I draw the line when they ask for money. A Anonymous Jun 10, It really helps, now I have an idea how they work on a scam. Thank you very much. I don't think I'll go so far as to check the military database, I'm convinced he is a scammer. LC Linda Cox Apr 27, Taught me that scammers target older women.
This tactic was used on me. GM Ginger Mitchell Jan 4, NL Nuranissa Lonsibin May 27,