Girlfriend scams, boyfriend scams,
and other online frauds that involve dating and relationships are commonplace
on the Internet, thanks to online dating Websites. However, these online crooks
can also use popular social media Websites or email addresses to contact other
people. These crooks are known to place a phone call to their potential victims
to introduce themselves. A more popular term for this is ‘catfishing’.
Criminals are known to target
specific people on dating Websites, and will select their victims based on
their personal information, or their wealth. Then these criminals will build
their own dating profiles to reel in their targets by conversing with them,
flirting with them online, professing their love, and finally, making plans to
see each other in person. Scammers will build lots of fake profiles that are
sure to reel you in. They can also use a fake name, or steal the identity of
another person on the Internet, like military personnel, professionals, or even
aid workers – As long as the person is currently abroad. Once their victim is
comfortable with them, the scammer will create this tragic story and request
some cash in order to bring them out of trouble, so the two of them can finally
meet.
A person you end up building a
relationship with on the Internet might start asking you to bring them some
cash for travel costs. Sometimes, they might mention that they have lost their
plane ticket, and will ask you to send them some cash so they can purchase a
new one. The scammer will also pretend to request for some cash to aid them in
a personal emergency – Such as a sick family member who needs immediate medical
assistance. Or they may also tell you about a supposed financial hardship that
has suddenly happened, like getting robbed or a business failure. The scammer
will also occasionally mention that they want to visit you so badly, but won’t
be able to do so unless you send in some cash to cover their flights, or other
expenses.
Girlfriend
Scams in Numbers
1. In 2015, an estimated 2,600 Aussies have lost over $23
million because of girlfriend scams, or romance scams in general. These scams
can cause a significant amount of harm both financially and emotionally to its
victims. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, also known as the ACCC,
has mentioned that these figures are only the tip of a very huge iceberg, since
a lot of these scamming victims are actually hesitant to talk about their
scamming experiences to friends, family, or the authorities.
3. Meanwhile, in the US, victims have a total loss of
$50.4 million each year to these scams. Unfortunately, this total loss just
keeps on increasing each year – Since, much like the Aussie victims, a lot of
them do not talk about the fact that they’ve been targeted, out of pure
embarrassment.
4. Girlfriend scams are very common in Canada as well – In
2013, around 1,728 cases of fraud were reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud
Center, with a total loss of $15 million.
