Who doesn’t want real love in life? In search of love or companionship people go to online dating sites hoping to have their own happy ending. As there are a lot of success stories, there are also stories that have ended with scams.
It has been found by the US Federal Trade Commission in 2016, 11,235 complaints about dating scams were registered and the figures rose to 52,593 in 2020.
If you’re also one of those victims and want to recover your finances then you’re at the right place. Here we’re gonna see the practical steps to recover financially from a romance scam.
What is a Romance Scam?
In romance scams, victims are tricked into giving money to scammers who go to extremes to win their confidence and pretend to be in a real relationship. These scams are usually via mail, social media, or dating apps where scammers create fake profiles to attract unsuspecting victims.
The birth of romance scams lies in the art of emotional manipulation.
Some of these requests—such as when offenders say they need money for emergency medical attention or to cover the cost of transportation to see the victim if they are abroad—may be quite sentimental. Over time, scammers frequently establish a rapport with their victims.
How to Spot Romance Scam
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Is This a Real Person
If they claim they can’t meet in person, act with utmost suspicion. Your virtual crush will most likely give reasons they are in the military, travel frequently, reside overseas, or are employed by a global company.
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Fake Profile
Scammers misuse stolen data and real people’s photos in order to keep their profiles convincing across several sites and their profiles are usually incomplete, if you search their name on the internet, you’ll most probably left empty-handed.
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Avoid Talking on Legitimate Websites
Scammers usually avoid talking on legitimate sites as they don’t want to get caught doing something illegal so they persuade their victims to converse on other apps like WhatsApp.
It permits scammers to access personal information such as primary email address, phone no. etc.
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Moving Quickly in Relationship
Another indicator is when someone tries to move quickly in a relationship and gives a quick commitment regarding marriage or moving in. Especially be aware of compliment tactics when they shower you with praises in a short time.
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Refuse to Video Call
It is important to verify whether the person sending you photos is the same person you’re talking to online and you can do that through video call but if they’re hesitant in video calling, this could be a red flag.
Practical steps to recover financially from a romance scam
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Cease all Contacts
The first step is to cease all contact and immediately stop all communication with the scammer to avoid any further mishaps.
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Report the Scam
Report the incidents to the relevant authorities so that actions can be taken quickly and chances of recovering money will be high. There are various authorities such as:
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Local Law Enforcement
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Federal Trade Commission(FTC)
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Internet Crime Complaint Centre(IC3)
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Your Country’s Consumer Protection Agency
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Protect Your Identity
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Change Passwords: Modify the passwords on all of your online accounts, particularly the ones that contain financial and personal data
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Account Monitoring: Keep a regular eye out for any unusual activity in your credit reports and bank accounts.
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Notify Credit Agencies and Banks: Tell your credit agencies and banks about the scam so they can keep an eye out for any fraudulent behavior.
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Register Your Complaint with FTC:
You can file your complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report online dating scams in the US. The FTC gathers these reports and then uses them to identify trends and notify other parties.
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Recover Funds
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File a Dispute: If you made use of a credit card, contact your credit card issuer to dispute any unauthorized usage.
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Insurance Reclamations: Verify whether you have insurance that could protect you against fraud damages.
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Contact Financial Institutions: If you made any payments or wire transfers, get in touch with your bank or the payment service provider right once to ask about the possibility of having the transactions reversed.
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Seek Financial Counseling
Consider seeking help from a certified financial advisor or credit counseling service. Join a support group for scam victims that can provide emotional support or advice.
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Taking Legal Actions
If necessary seek legal advice to understand your options for recovering losses or protecting rights. Consider whether it’s feasible to file a lawsuit against the scammer if they can be identified or located.
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Emotional Recovery
Take care of yourself by doing things that make you feel better, including working out, practicing meditation, hanging out with loved ones, or taking up a hobby. You must look after your mental and physical health during this time.
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Educate Yourself and Others
To prevent becoming a victim of romance scams in the future, educate yourself on the telltale indications of these types of frauds. You can defend against these dishonest techniques for both yourself and other people by being knowledgeable.
You can begin to restore your financial stability and defend yourself against fraud in the future by following these procedures. Although recovery could take some time, it is possible with perseverance and the correct assistance.
