NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE SERVICE
*************************
On this Valentine's Day, if you're looking for love online we have a reminder about internet safety. Romance scams often begin on social media or online dating sites where fraudsters gain your trust and affection to dupe you into handing over money or personal information.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CFAC) has these tips to protect your heart and bank account:
- Be suspicious when someone you haven't met in person professes their love to you. Ask yourself, would someone I’ve never met really declare his or her love after only a few emails?
- Be wary when someone you meet on social media wants to quickly move to a private mode of communication (email, text)
- If trying to set up an in-person meeting, be suspicious if he or she always has an excuse not to meet
- If you do actually set up a meeting, tell family and friends when and where you’re going and meet in a local, public place
- Do not share personal (birthdate, address) or financial information with anyone you’ve only just met online or in person
- Never send intimate photos or videos of yourself. The scammer may try to use these to blackmail you into sending money
- Be cautious when conversing with an individual who claims to live close to you but is working overseas
- Never under any circumstance send money for any reason. The scammer will make it seem like an emergency, he or she may even express distress or anger to make you feel guilty but DO NOT send money
- Should you be asked to accept money (e-transfer, cheque) or goods (usually electronics) for you to transfer/send elsewhere, do not do so. This is usually a form of money laundering, which is a criminal offence.
If you suspect a loved one may be a victim of a romance scam — based on any above points — explain the concerns and risks and help him or her get out of the situation.
Investigate
- Do an image search of the admirer to see if his or her photo has been taken from a stock photo site or someone else’s online profile
- Look for inconsistencies in their online profiles vs. what they tell you
- Watch for poorly written, vague messages, sometimes even addressing you by wrong name — often scammers are working several victims at once
- If you have transferred money, stop the transaction if possible.
Report it: How should I respond?
- If you did send money or share financial information, report it to the financial institution used e.g. your bank, Western Union, MoneyGram
- Gather all information pertaining to the situation, including the scammer’s profile name, how you made contact, social media screenshots, emails, etc. and contact us
- File a report with the CAFC toll-free at 1-888-495-8501 or online
- Notify the dating website or social media site where you met the scammer. Scammers usually have more than one account. Be proactive, tell family, friends, coworkers and neighbours about your experience to warn them about romance scams.
*************************
