Valentine’s Day is here again and many single people may be tempted to look for love on online dating sites or through social networks.
What they find, however, may be something completely different – financial ruin.
Scam artists learned how to create fake profiles soon after these types of sites first appeared.
They are experts at appearing to be the person their victim has always been looking for.
They prey on their victim’s insecurities and desires, making them feel like they have met their perfect partner.
Your Perfect Valentine
The scammer will appear to have the exact same likes and dislikes as their victim and so they will seem to be the perfect Valentine.
By simply agreeing with anything their victim says they can easily create a sense of empathy and build strong rapport.
By appearing to be someone special, with whom the victim feels extremely comfortable, the scammer manoeuvres them into the position he wants.
Next, the sting.
Financial Troubles
After a while the scam artist will suggest a meeting with the victim.
As the time arrives, they will suddenly have a crisis, meaning they cannot afford to travel.
They will then ask for money for a plane ticket, or perhaps another issue, such as a sick relative who needs urgent medical attention.
The victim will be put on the spot and will have little time to think.
Many thousands of people fall for these types of scams each year.
Make sure you aren’t the next one and have a happy Valentine’s Day.