Americans lost more than $ 1 billion in 2021 from "romance scams" alone, as in the case of the Netflix documentary Tinder Swindler.
Most of the victims who were deceived are women over the age of 40 and those who are widowed, divorced, elderly or with special needs, the FBI Cybercrime Complaints Center (IC3) said in a statement last week.
These fraudsters often use poems, flowers, and other gifts to seduce victims and keep them disturbed by showing life circumstances such as tragedy, death, injury, and so on. The most famous example of these scams is Simon Leviev , who claimed to be the son of a diamond billionaire and deceived the women he knew on Tinder.
How do you know if your partner is not a "Simon"?
1. They are always away: Usually they are removed as if they work in companies abroad and find it impossible to meet in person. It may happen that they say:
- work in an oil company
- work in the army or live abroad
- are doctors in an international organization
- work on a construction project abroad
2. Their profile looks too good to be true
3. The relationship develops quickly: They want to act quickly before the victims realize the deception. To do this, try to gain trust. Usually:
- declare love very quickly.
- they ask you to get married.
- promise to stay with you.
- promise to live with you.
4. You do not meet: They may even pay for plane tickets or other travel expenses, but cancel at the last minute.
5. Ata pretendojnë se kanë nevojë për para: Nëse ai/ajo ju kërkon para, kini kujdes. Zakonisht kërkojnë para me pretendimin se u duhen për:
- bileta avioni ose vizë
- shpenzime mjekësore ose operacion
- borxhe
- familjen
- emergjenca personale
6. Kërkojnë metoda të veçanta pagese
Çfarë duhet të bëni?
- pay attention to disturbing signs
- search for names, photos and other data online to see if they are used elsewhere
- call and ask to communicate with video from time to time
- talk to a photoshop expert to see if photos / videos are real
- ask someone you know for a second thought
- do not send compromising photos
- do not reveal too much personal information
- do not give money to someone you have not met
- do not believe everything they say
- do not accept money from someone you have not met him
