Celebrity romance scams are costing people thousands! Here's what you need to know
- Replies 1
Romance scams have sadly become all too common in the online dating world. Also known as catfishing, these deceptive schemes involve criminals posing as attractive singles or famous celebrities to lure victims into fake online relationships.
Before long, the scammer requests money for various emergencies—and that's when the illusion comes crashing down.
In the United Kingdom, romance scams are on the rise, with 23 reported cases in just two months, with one story involving losses of over £5,000 or $9,600 AUD.
However, experts believe the true scale of the problem is much greater due to under-reporting from embarrassed victims.
One common tactic scammers use is impersonating well-known celebrities on social media. In one case, a woman thought she was messaging the celebrity chef James Martin, who eventually asked for a ‘loan’.
Another woman was tricked into purchasing and transferring Steam Gift Cards by a scammer posing as the Il Divo singer Urs Bühler for two months.
A third victim was conned into sending explicit images, which led to a blackmail attempt by someone who claimed they were the Take That frontman Gary Barlow.
Romance scams are also on the rise in Australia. Last month, Queensland Police led the bust of a fraudulent romance scheme orchestrated by a mother-daughter duo on the Gold Coast, uncovering wads of cash, documents that appear to be a ledger and mobile phones.
Allegedly, the scam had targeted lonely single men through personal ads placed in regional newspapers. It was estimated that the scam had cost Aussies $500,000 in total.
Detective Sargeant Tara Clapperton from the police’s Fraud Prevention Team remarked that romance scams have been sophisticated these days.
Victims were often targeted through dating apps or social media, then scammers convince them to switch to other platforms like WhatsApp.
The criminals would claim they were living or working overseas, so they couldn’t meet in person or would give various reasons why their cameras couldn’t be turned on during calls. They would eventually share family or legal troubles, issues with their business or medical bills to gather sympathy.
When the victims offered help, the scammers would initially refuse, but the police warned that it is ‘all part of the con’. The scammers would persuade their unsuspecting victims to send more money.
‘A lot of people hear about these scams and think “I wouldn't be taken in by that”, But these scams are clever, and that's why it's really important people exercise vigilance communicating with others online,’ Clapperton explained.
‘Online dating can be a fun and empowering experience, but to avoid becoming a victim of romance fraud, it’s really important people follow some really simple advice: if you’ve started an online relationship and the discussion turns to money—regardless of the reason or the amounts involved—then alarm bells should be ringing,’ she shared.
She also advised: ‘Never send money to people you’ve never met in person, no matter how much you’ve spoken online. Talking to a real-life friend or family member can be a good way to sense check what’s going on.’
‘They tell convincing lies, and it means that while victims think they are falling in love, they're actually falling for a scam,’ she added.
You can watch 7News Australia’s report on romance scams here:
Members, if you do know someone who has been similarly scammed, don't hesitate to reach out; it could make a world of difference. Contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or contact your local police station.
Have you, or anyone you know, encountered a similar scam? Share them in the comments below!
Before long, the scammer requests money for various emergencies—and that's when the illusion comes crashing down.
In the United Kingdom, romance scams are on the rise, with 23 reported cases in just two months, with one story involving losses of over £5,000 or $9,600 AUD.
However, experts believe the true scale of the problem is much greater due to under-reporting from embarrassed victims.
Romance scams are on the rise, with some criminals impersonating famous people. Credit: Tim Samuel/Pexels
One common tactic scammers use is impersonating well-known celebrities on social media. In one case, a woman thought she was messaging the celebrity chef James Martin, who eventually asked for a ‘loan’.
Another woman was tricked into purchasing and transferring Steam Gift Cards by a scammer posing as the Il Divo singer Urs Bühler for two months.
A third victim was conned into sending explicit images, which led to a blackmail attempt by someone who claimed they were the Take That frontman Gary Barlow.
Romance scams are also on the rise in Australia. Last month, Queensland Police led the bust of a fraudulent romance scheme orchestrated by a mother-daughter duo on the Gold Coast, uncovering wads of cash, documents that appear to be a ledger and mobile phones.
Allegedly, the scam had targeted lonely single men through personal ads placed in regional newspapers. It was estimated that the scam had cost Aussies $500,000 in total.
Detective Sargeant Tara Clapperton from the police’s Fraud Prevention Team remarked that romance scams have been sophisticated these days.
Victims were often targeted through dating apps or social media, then scammers convince them to switch to other platforms like WhatsApp.
The criminals would claim they were living or working overseas, so they couldn’t meet in person or would give various reasons why their cameras couldn’t be turned on during calls. They would eventually share family or legal troubles, issues with their business or medical bills to gather sympathy.
When the victims offered help, the scammers would initially refuse, but the police warned that it is ‘all part of the con’. The scammers would persuade their unsuspecting victims to send more money.
‘A lot of people hear about these scams and think “I wouldn't be taken in by that”, But these scams are clever, and that's why it's really important people exercise vigilance communicating with others online,’ Clapperton explained.
‘Online dating can be a fun and empowering experience, but to avoid becoming a victim of romance fraud, it’s really important people follow some really simple advice: if you’ve started an online relationship and the discussion turns to money—regardless of the reason or the amounts involved—then alarm bells should be ringing,’ she shared.
She also advised: ‘Never send money to people you’ve never met in person, no matter how much you’ve spoken online. Talking to a real-life friend or family member can be a good way to sense check what’s going on.’
‘They tell convincing lies, and it means that while victims think they are falling in love, they're actually falling for a scam,’ she added.
You can watch 7News Australia’s report on romance scams here:
Members, if you do know someone who has been similarly scammed, don't hesitate to reach out; it could make a world of difference. Contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or contact your local police station.
Have you, or anyone you know, encountered a similar scam? Share them in the comments below!
.png){kind=icon}
