Carl O’Reilly started talking to a girl on a matchmaking site when she asked for his. If someone believes they have been targeted by a scammer then can report the matter to Police by phoning 105, Allan said. A victim of an online dating scam revealed how a simple WhatsApp video call changed his life for the worst. Note if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family or requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.Beware if the individual seems too perfect or quickly asks you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.Research the person's photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.He advised people using data sites and apps to: Scammers use social media and dating sites to better understand and target you, he said. People who always seem to have a sob story, typically about a child or family member being sick, and talk about the need for urgency should also be treated with caution.Īllan said those looking for love should be careful what they post and make public on the internet. That includes people who always have excuses about why they can't meet in person or via video chats, and those who are often in hard to reach places, like working on oil rigs or in the military. That means police often see the same photo being used again and again, with different generic names attached but a similar story.Īllan said there were a number of red flags to be wary of when online data. To keep their story on-track when engaging with multiple people, they use the same profile." "They are typically organised criminal networks who are scamming multiple victims at once. "Our investigations indicate that those who perpetrate these romance scams are predominantly based offshore," Allan said. Handing cash to a money-laundering cryptocurrency trader is another way potential scammers secure funds, police said. Once trust has been gained they request financial assistance from the target, with the method of payment depending on the digital proficiency of the victim.Ĭryptocurrency is the scammer's preferred method of getting money from their victims, but they are also sent cash or use offshore bank transfers. They are also present on most dating platforms. Those who carry out the scam, typically via a dating website or app, are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring and believable, he said.
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