Reporting a romance scam, dating scam or “catfishing” as it is called, involves knowing the right way of collecting evidence and presenting it. A romance scam is a fraud when one makes the effort to lure an innocent other into giving them money on a dating site, email romance or dating related contact. If one is concerned that one is being scammed, the first thing to do is set about gathering evidence for the fraud report and cutting off all lines of communication with the scammer.
#1 Stop Communications with Scammers
The first step to take is to stop communications with the person trying to scam you. Block their emails, don't answer their phones, and don't engage with them in chat, instant messaging, your cell phone or your dating site.
#2 Collect Evidence
You need to make hard copies of everything the dating scammer has sent you. Ensure that you keep them in a file or binder for safe keeping. Print out the emails, file letters received and check the bank receipts, credit card transactions, wire details or money order receipts. Print the phone bills and write out the text messages or better still, get a record from your cell phone provider. Then, file related canceled checks and document chat via IM.
#3 Check if Payments Made Can be Canceled
Most dating scams involve money transfers that hinge on anonymity such as the Western Union. If you are sending funds to the dating scam artist, check if the check can be cancelled or the card can be blocked.
#4 Make a Fraud Report Online
File a fraud report to catch the scammer. Check out the FBI website dedicated to online fraud as well called “Looks Too Good to be True.” This offers scam reporting for citizens of any nation, irrespective of their location. It may even help you in the documentation process while filing a fraud report.
#5 Aggregate Information on the Scam Artist
Try to collect as much information as you can about the person who defrauded you. This includes their actual name, email ID, other IDs used, the address where you shared the money or personal details, dates contact was made, phone numbers used and the name and address the money was sent to. You can even track down the scammer using the IP address.
#6 Check If Your Identity Has Been Stolen
Leaving yourself open to a romance scam, means you most likely are a victim of identity theft too. As soon as you have made contact with a romance scammer, check out the contact list for other fraudulent folks to contact you. Don't accept chats or email contact with random strangers. Block contact with anyone who appears suspicious and engages in criminal actions. File a fraud report alerting others so that they can be on their guard too. Stay vigilant and make sure you file a fraud report in time. In a romance scam, the fraudster could be entrapping multiple victims and your fraud report could make a difference to many others, not just yourself.
