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Uzone.id – The word ‘romantic’ is not always beautiful. When dating online becomes a common thing, there are romance scams that are increasingly common as well.
RBC Royal Bank reveals that romance scams are an international business and in the last several years, scammers around the world have defrauded victims out of billions of dollars.
The people behind these scams are good at what they’re doing, even beyond. Scamming while flirting until the victims give up their hearts, their trust, and their money? That’s another level of skill.
So, if you’re part of a romantic seeker who’s active on dating apps, here are tricks to protect yourself from those romantic scammers.
1. Recognize the basic signs of online romance scammers
A romantic scammer usually creates a fake profile on dating sites or social media platforms, they’ll use a picture of a good-looking man/woman to attract their victim. They’ll try to establish a romantic connection and build trust before asking for money. You need to keep your distance and heart before going to the next step.
If you’re not sure about the fake profile pictures, you can check them on the internet by using Google Lens features.
2. Do not easily share your personal information
When you’re getting to know someone online, do not share too much information about yourself. Scammers tend to be secretive and do not share clear details about themselves, instead, they’ll bombard you with detailed questions and will use them to manipulate you.
3. Ask for a video call to make sure their identity
If you feel like you’re serious about someone you met online and ready to be in a relationship, take the initiative to ask for video calls or meet in person.
This step will ensure the person you’re talking to is the same with their profile pictures. If they avoid and reject your request, it means they’re scammers.
4. Look out for every detail
Scammers tend to be secretive about their identity and that’s a chance for you to pay attention to the details they share about their lives. If their stories don’t add up, or they frequently change their narrative, it’s a major red flag.
For example, they might claim to be a professionals living abroad but can’t inform you about their specific job or daily routine.
5. Trust your gut
Follow your instinct because it’s a powerful tool for you to decide whether they’re potentially good or not for you. If something feels off or seems too good to be true, then step back and trust your gut feeling.
6. Do not fall for their crocodile tears and sad stories
Scammers will use emotional manipulation by creating sad fiction stories to gain your trust and sympathy. They might tell you about personal crises, sudden financial troubles, and emergencies and ask you to send money.
Quick advice: always be skeptical of such requests and cut them off once they do this trick.
7. Do not send money or gifts
Rule number one: never send your money or gifts to someone you haven’t met in person. No matter how convincing their story might be, you have to realize you don’t know them personally.
Besides, remember they’re just basically strangers and it’s important to protect your money. Do not fall for their traps like asking you to pay travel expenses, medical bills, or even business investments.
8. Only use reputable dating platform
These platforms typically have better security systems to protect and are more likely to get rid of malicious accounts and fake profiles. Reputable sites often provide you with safety tips and will support you if you suspect a scam.
Staying safe while seeking romance online in 2024 is a basic rule to do. By following these guidelines and being aware of the red flags, you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of online romance scams.
