Fake dating app user tricks man into losing $13,000 in elaborate scam
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In the digital age, the search for companionship often leads us to the virtual world of dating apps, where connections are made with a simple swipe.
But as one Australian man discovered, the quest for love can sometimes lead to a costly heartbreak—not of the emotional kind, but of the financial sort.
Andrew was looking for love on the Tinder dating app when he matched with a user named 'Zoe'.
Over several weeks, Zoe charmed Andrew, building a rapport that seemed genuine. As their virtual relationship blossomed, Zoe shared her success story of investing in cryptocurrency, painting a picture of lucrative returns and financial freedom.
The allure of quick money and the trust he had placed in Zoe led Andrew to try digital currency.
With Zoe's guidance, he set up an account on an online platform and made a small initial investment. To his delight, this investment paid off, and he received money in return.
Emboldened by this success and inspired by Zoe's encouragement, Andrew decided to go all in. He took out a $13,000 bank loan and invested it into the cryptocurrency platform.
But the dream quickly turned into a nightmare. Moments after making the larger investment, Andrew's newfound wealth vanished.
He was unable to withdraw any funds, and Zoe stopped communicating with him.
This cautionary tale was highlighted by South Australia Police during their annual Scam Awareness Week.
Senior Constable Casey Morrison of the South Australia Police Cybercrime Unit warned the public about the dangers of investment scams
'Investment scams involve promises of big payouts, quick money or guaranteed returns,' Constable Morrison said.
'In addition to the traditional way of transferring funds through bank transfer, cryptocurrency is becoming more popular because of the perceived anonymity it offers.’
'Crypto scams often aim to gain private information such as security codes or trick an unsuspecting person into sending cryptocurrency to a compromised digital wallet.
In 2023, investment scams siphoned approximately $1.3 billion from Australians, with South Australians alone losing over $10.2 million.
‘While this amount is alarming, it is likely actual losses are significantly higher because many people don't report when they've been scammed,' Constable Morrison said.
Seniors, particularly those over 65, are the most affected demographic, with median losses reaching $30,000.
The police urged Australians to be sceptical of investment opportunities that seem too good to be true, offering high returns with little to no risk.
Scammers often use social media advertisements and fraudulent websites to entice victims into transferring money into fake investment funds.
These scams may also be riddled with grammatical errors or typos, which can be telltale signs of fraud.
To protect yourself, it is crucial to safeguard personal information, including your mobile phone number, identification documents, and bank details. Never share these details with anyone else or a third party.
Have you, or anyone you know, encountered a similar scam? Let us know in the comments below!
But as one Australian man discovered, the quest for love can sometimes lead to a costly heartbreak—not of the emotional kind, but of the financial sort.
Andrew was looking for love on the Tinder dating app when he matched with a user named 'Zoe'.
Over several weeks, Zoe charmed Andrew, building a rapport that seemed genuine. As their virtual relationship blossomed, Zoe shared her success story of investing in cryptocurrency, painting a picture of lucrative returns and financial freedom.
Andrew thought he had found genuine companionship on Tinder. Credit: Racool_studio / Freepik
The allure of quick money and the trust he had placed in Zoe led Andrew to try digital currency.
With Zoe's guidance, he set up an account on an online platform and made a small initial investment. To his delight, this investment paid off, and he received money in return.
Emboldened by this success and inspired by Zoe's encouragement, Andrew decided to go all in. He took out a $13,000 bank loan and invested it into the cryptocurrency platform.
But the dream quickly turned into a nightmare. Moments after making the larger investment, Andrew's newfound wealth vanished.
He was unable to withdraw any funds, and Zoe stopped communicating with him.
This cautionary tale was highlighted by South Australia Police during their annual Scam Awareness Week.
Senior Constable Casey Morrison of the South Australia Police Cybercrime Unit warned the public about the dangers of investment scams
'Investment scams involve promises of big payouts, quick money or guaranteed returns,' Constable Morrison said.
'In addition to the traditional way of transferring funds through bank transfer, cryptocurrency is becoming more popular because of the perceived anonymity it offers.’
'Crypto scams often aim to gain private information such as security codes or trick an unsuspecting person into sending cryptocurrency to a compromised digital wallet.
In 2023, investment scams siphoned approximately $1.3 billion from Australians, with South Australians alone losing over $10.2 million.
‘While this amount is alarming, it is likely actual losses are significantly higher because many people don't report when they've been scammed,' Constable Morrison said.
Seniors, particularly those over 65, are the most affected demographic, with median losses reaching $30,000.
The police urged Australians to be sceptical of investment opportunities that seem too good to be true, offering high returns with little to no risk.
These scams may also be riddled with grammatical errors or typos, which can be telltale signs of fraud.
To protect yourself, it is crucial to safeguard personal information, including your mobile phone number, identification documents, and bank details. Never share these details with anyone else or a third party.
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