This week includes the annual holiday of Valentine's Day, which has origins dating back to A.D. 270 (see History of Valentine's Day for more info on that),and it is most notably known for a celebration of love and romance.  Unfortunately, not everyone has the best intentions when it comes to romance, and many people can become victims of ROMANCE SCAMS.  

What is a romance scam? 

These relationships are often started online by scammers who create fake profiles on dating sites or apps, or they contact you through popular social media sites like Instagram or Facebook. The scammers start a relationship in order to build trust, often contacting the victim several times per day.  They then make up a story and ask for money.  

The scammers then start to tell lies such as: 

• They can't meet you in person, because they are traveling, live outside of the country, or are in the military.
• They will ask you for money to help pay for medical expenses for them or a family member, pay for them to visit, or help to pay fees to get them out of trouble.
• All scammers, including romance scammers, want to get your money quickly, so they will tell you how to pay.  This could be in the form of gift cards or wire transfers.  

The Federal Trade Commission offers the following advice if you suspect you are being scammed: 

BOTTOM LINE: Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven’t met in person.

• Stop communicating with the person immediately.
• Talk to someone you trust. Do your friends or family say they’re concerned about your new love interest?
• Search online for the type of job the person has plus the word “scammer.” Have other people posted similar stories? For example, search for “oil rig scammer” or “US Army scammer.”
• Do a reverse image search of the person’s profile picture. Is it associated with another name or with details that don’t match up? Those are signs of a scam.

If you suspect you may have already been scammed and have paid a romance scammer with a gift card, wire transfer, credit or debit card, or cryptocurrency, contact the company or your bank right away. Tell them you paid a scammer and ask them to refund your money.

If you think it’s a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Notify the social networking site or app where you met the scammer, too.

For more information, visit Valentine's Day romance scam.  May you enjoy all of the chocolate and roses your heart desires this week!!  

Source: Federal Trade Commission