Valentine’s Day is almost here and since online dating is popular, one of the most common modes for people to find a partner this season. However, scams related to Valentine’s Day and online dating have increased in multiple folds over the years. So much so that Interpol has issued a warning against dating apps-related scams.
Before getting into the ways to stay protected from dating scams, it is important to understand the common types of dating scams.

Types of dating scams

Online dating scammers often ask for money in ways that make it hard for victims to get it back. One way is asking for bank transfers. Once the money has been transfered, it is very difficult to get it back, if not impossible as victims can’t cancel the transfer like they could with a credit card charge.
Another way is asking for gift cards. If victims give the gift card numbers, they can’t get the money back. It’s an easy, irreversible way for scammers to get money.
Scammers also ask for reloadable debit cards. They may first ask for the card, then keep asking to add more money to it. This gives them a steady stream of money from victims. It’s very hard to recover funds once loaded onto the cards.

How dating scams work and tips to stay protected

Dating scams happen not just on dating sites but also on social media and in online games. Scammers start by saying hi to build what seems like a real friendship or romance. They make up believable stories about their jobs to get victims interested.
Once they manage to establish the fake relationship, scammers take advantage by talking victims into making bad money choices. They share fake investing tips and get victims to join in fake schemes. Victims may not know they’ve been scammed until the scammer suddenly stops contacting them.
To avoid dating and romance scams online, do this
Make your social media private: Use settings on Facebook and Instagram so only friends see posts and info. This stops strangers from accessing your stuff.
Be cautious about invitations: Don’t just accept friend requests or messages from people you don’t know. Romance scammers use fake accounts to get info for scams. Make sure the person is real before starting an online relationship.
Keep security software updated: Regularly update your device’s security software to the newest version. This protects against viruses, ransomware, phishing scams, and other online threats.