A THREE-WORD phrase said too soon is an immediate red flag, and could mean you’re being primed for a scam.
Recognising the signs of a too-good-to-be-true swindle are essential to stopping a fraudster taking off with your hard-earned cash.
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Scammers will employ any and every tactic they have to get what they want from victims.
Nothing is off limits. Not even love.
Cyber crooks often take advantage of people looking for their perfect match on online dating sites like Tinder and Plenty of Fish.
So if you encounter a mysterious profile the rushes into saying “I love you,” too soon – watch out.
It’s one of the most common red flags when it comes to romance scammers.
But there are five more giveaways.
FAR FLUNG LOVER
It’s perfectly normal to chat online for a few days to weeks before going on a first, in-person, date.
But it’s not normal to be strung along for months, or even years, with the promise of eventually meeting face-to-face.
Romance scammers often pretend to live far away so they can keep up the con – because they are rarely who they say they are.
NO FACE
Flirty fraudsters will also avoid video calls at all costs.
Their profile will be one intended to scam people, and will likely include stock photos of models, or ones pulled from strangers’ social media pages.
They might agree to voice calls, but hopping onto FaceTime or Skype will immediately give up their ruse.
BROKEN PROMISES
In modern dating, it’s unlikely an honest dater will not want to wait months for a face-to-face date or go without video chats.
So it’s up to the scammer to string them along with excuses and false promises for as long as they can.
If a trend like this is emerging in your online relationship, take a step back and evaluate.
EERILY SIMILAR
If a mysterious match feels tailor-made for you, they just might be.
Scammers may pimp out their profiles with photos that match your specific interests.
FINANCIAL STRUGGLES
No worthwhile love interest is going to rope you into their financial woes before a first date or video chat.
Asking for financial help is a major red flag when it comes to romance scams – particularly if it feels like you’re really getting along.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
After hooking their target, crooks will always ask for money – or sensitive information like your financial details – eventually.
They may also ask victims to transfer their stolen cash into new accounts, making them an unknowing accomplice in money laundering.
How to protect yourself from fraud
USE the following tips to protect yourself from fraudsters.
- Keep your social media accounts private – Think twice before you your share details – in particular your full date of birth, address and contacts details – all of this information can be useful to fraudsters.
- Deactivate and delete old social media profiles – Keep track of your digital footprint. If a profile was created 10 years ago, there may be personal information currently available for a fraudster to use that you’re are not aware of or you have forgotten about.
- Password protect your devices– Keep passwords complex by picking three random words, such as roverducklemon and add or split them with symbols, numbers and capitals.
- Install anti-virus software on your laptop and personal devices and keep it up to date – This will make it harder for fraudsters to access your data in the first place.
- Take care on public Wi-Fi– Fraudsters can hack or mimic them. If you’re using one, avoid accessing sensitive apps, such as mobile banking.
- Think about your offline information too – Always redirect your post when you move home and make sure your letter or mailbox is secure.