In the digital age, the search for companionship often leads many to the vast world of the internet.

Online platforms have become the new meeting grounds for those seeking love and connection.

However, this virtual space has its perils. As we embrace the convenience of digital relationships, we must also be wary of the darker side of the internet: scams that prey on the vulnerable.

A cautionary tale recently unfolded in Cairns. A woman fell victim to a romance scam and lost a staggering $200,000.

The Cairns Police have sounded the alarm, urging residents to exercise caution when engaging with potential partners online.

Cairns Police warned us to stay vigilant against romance scams that result in significant financial loss. Credit: Shutterstock

Romance scams are not just about the emotional toll; they can also lead to substantial financial loss.

The scam typically starts with an unsolicited message or friend request from a scammer using a fake social media or dating app profile.

Cairns Police have highlighted that these profiles can seem incredibly genuine, making it difficult to spot the deception.

The scammer then lures the victim away from the original platform to a more private messaging app, where they begin to weave a believable narrative.

They might claim to be deployed overseas and unable to access their funds, creating a scenario that tugs at the heartstrings.

In the recent case, a 60-year-old woman from Cairns was methodically befriended by a scammer who, over time, built a relationship of trust before exploiting it for financial gain.

Detective Acting Inspector Cindy Searle emphasised that these scammers are skilled manipulators who use sophisticated tactics to gain trust and encourage victims to part with their money.

The scammers' strategies are varied and can include requests for cash sent in packages, online transfers of funds or cryptocurrency, or even opening accounts that the scammer can access.

Inspector Searle advised individuals to critically assess their knowledge of the person they're communicating with online.

If you have yet to meet them in person, you cannot be certain of their true identity.

For those who suspect they might be caught in the web of a romance scam, resources such as ScamWatch, ID Care, and the Queensland Police Service website offer valuable information and support.

The Australian Federal Police warned last Valentine's Day about a financial scam called ‘pig butchering’.

Scammers prey on lonely singles via messaging apps, building trust over months or even years before luring them into investing in fake businesses. You can read more about it here.

Key Takeaways

• Cairns Police have issued a warning to be vigilant of romance scams that can lead to significant financial loss.
• A 60-year-old Cairns woman lost $200,000 to a scammer who gained her trust through a fake profile on a social media platform.
• Detective Acting Inspector Cindy Searle highlighted the manipulative tactics used by scammers and reminded victims that they are not at fault.
• potential victims need to be cautious and confirm the identity of online acquaintances before making any financial transactions; those affected should seek assistance from ScamWatch, ID care, and the Queensland Police Service.

Have you or someone you know ever experienced an online romance scam? What steps did you take to protect yourself afterwards? Let us know in the comments below.

 

[BellaB18]

Even meeting the old fashioned way is taking a chance.
I met my ex husband at a local pub years ago, he was lovely until he wasn't!

Sadly that does happen.
Kind regards Vicki

 

[deni67]

I have found that these people are targeting anyone they can conscript on social media and not just on dating sites. I check the persons profile page and recent posts. Most scammer try to make their profile look legitimate as though they have been online for a long time and a safe bet. However, if you look at the dates of each post, I usually find the scammers have several posts all on with the same repeated date. I will find the same two or three dates as I go down the list of posts. Auto "RED FLAG" and any posts regarding crypto currency. I avoid like the plague. I often post my artwork and hobbies on online sites, so I enjoy interacting with people who have similar interests. However, I am vigilant as to who I accept friend requests from, if they ever request money, talk about investments, quick rich schemes, then I defriend them straight away and end the conversation. One friend request I received was from someone I thought I knew. However, it turned out to be an imposter posing as my friend. I messaged my friend through a known contact, and they confirmed it was a scammer trying to coax me into applying form some grant. The catch of course is while the grant is legitimate there is a fee to pay when putting in the application and a very select criteria, which most people do not fit. I have learnt that one really quick. I kept on saying "no" to this individual and the person kept on insisting that I apply. All of the usual stories of "we have been friends a long time", "did you ever think I would tell you something if were not true", pulling at the heart strings. They really had me going for a while. When I contact my friend, they confirmed my suspicions that this was a scammer.

They haven't realised that on Facebook you can change the dates and times of your posts, foolish people lol

 

[GrannyJA!]

As soon as these so-called friends request money, I defriend them simple. I have received several online friend requests over time. Several of these have started out with the usual chit chat over time and then inevitably they come up with some excuse that they are short of money, and could I send them iTunes cash cards. I cut the conversation off and defriend them because they are not friends, they are scammers. I always look at the persons profile page. If I find that the page has only been recently created then that is an automatic RedFlag, and I do not answer the request. If they ask for money, then end the conversation. I think many lonely people get sucked into the scammer web of deception and do not wish to appear rude, or to upset the person. Just think of every friend request as a possible scam and or a "wolf in sheep's clothing".

This little black duck only accepts 'friend requests' from people I know or people that they recommend. Bugger all these so-called US servicemen, doctors from doctors without borders and so-called 'widowers' looking for Aussie female meal tickets. Most of these idiots are just the result of bots anyway.

 

[DZUDI]

Hi there yes I was contacted via social media from male persons reportedly identifying as US soldiers .Generals and other positions held . I blocked these scammers , and they kept changing the roles they were playing , but changing their names but always along the same lines of contact.The US found out that a person was indeed responsible and took action, BUT these types of persons ARE STILL OUT THERE and are now trying to contact me VIA SOCIAL MEDIA . by COMMENTING on the postings from me, that they love my comments and that they request through FRIEND REQUESTS to become my friend. They have been blocked so THEY HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHING CONTACTING ME VIA NOTIFICATIONS! DO NOT OPEN ANY CONTACT AND DELETE IMMEDIATELY. BE VIGILANT and any 'sweet talking friend request' delete .! Hope this helps as the look of a man in UNIFORM does appeal to the female gender.

 

[Phantom55]

Sorry l truly don't know how people get caught up in these romance scams. Very kind regards Vicki

lonely is a very dangerous place to be , smart or dumb it can be fatal to anyone(a walking target) nice people tend to think everyone is nice

 

[Jest]

As soon as these so-called friends request money, I defriend them simple. I have received several online friend requests over time. Several of these have started out with the usual chit chat over time and then inevitably they come up with some excuse that they are short of money, and could I send them iTunes cash cards. I cut the conversation off and defriend them because they are not friends, they are scammers. I always look at the persons profile page. If I find that the page has only been recently created then that is an automatic RedFlag, and I do not answer the request. If they ask for money, then end the conversation. I think many lonely people get sucked into the scammer web of deception and do not wish to appear rude, or to upset the person. Just think of every friend request as a possible scam and or a "wolf in sheep's clothing".

ii have had the odd one but as they are a stranger to me they are deleted. who befriends a stranger on facebook is an idiot.

 

[DLHM]

Places like eharmony, Plenty of Fish, Tinder, EliteSingles and a few others arn't fake.
When someone joins they can lie their arse off about their personality, if someone is a narcissist they arn't going to put that in, they are going to say they are whiter than white so it's lucky dip to who you're matched up with.

I didn't go through a dating site per se, I met my partner in a chat room, which was basically a "Hook up room", when he lived in FNQ and I lived in Perth, we've been living in unwedded bliss for the last 23 years.
If I look back at the time I really knew nothing about him except he said all the right things to me, things like he loved me and would look after me for the rest of my life etc, I lucked out, as of right now iv'e got some serious health problems including bowel cancer and he does everything, I mean EVERYTHING, like he cooks for me, does the cleaning and right now we're in the middle of moving house and I can't do a thing to help, he's doing it all.
I couldn't find a more perfect man if I tried and that was basically through a "dating site" so please don't tar them all with the same feather.
A few of my other friends met their life time partners on there too.

I have a cousin who met his current wife on Plenty of Fish. They’ve been happily married over 15 years so far.

 

[magpie1]

I avoid social media, dating sites etc. like the plague! Nothing like meeting a man the old fashioned way - there in front of you! One can tell a lot by just looking at them!

Unfortunately even meeting them the old fashioned way as you suggest can also end badly.....remember that they can all look favourably at times.....just depends on how much you have had to drink at the time.

 

[Ivory]

As soon as these so-called friends request money, I defriend them simple. I have received several online friend requests over time. Several of these have started out with the usual chit chat over time and then inevitably they come up with some excuse that they are short of money, and could I send them iTunes cash cards. I cut the conversation off and defriend them because they are not friends, they are scammers. I always look at the persons profile page. If I find that the page has only been recently created then that is an automatic RedFlag, and I do not answer the request. If they ask for money, then end the conversation. I think many lonely people get sucked into the scammer web of deception and do not wish to appear rude, or to upset the person. Just think of every friend request as a possible scam and or a "wolf in sheep's clothing".

Kevin. A.: I received a friend request the other day

As soon as these so-called friends request money, I defriend them simple. I have received several online friend requests over time. Several of these have started out with the usual chit chat over time and then inevitably they come up with some excuse that they are short of money, and could I send them iTunes cash cards. I cut the conversation off and defriend them because they are not friends, they are scammers. I always look at the persons profile page. If I find that the page has only been recently created then that is an automatic RedFlag, and I do not answer the request. If they ask for money, then end the conversation. I think many lonely people get sucked into the scammer web of deception and do not wish to appear rude, or to upset the person. Just think of every friend request as a possible scam and or a "wolf in sheep's clothing".

i received a friends request a couple of weeks ago, after several discussions related to cats, a topic I’m mad about. After the third message from this person another group member indicated this woman was a serious scammer and not to respond any further. All the woman’s posts were then deleted!

 

[Gaena]

Finding it difficult to meet a man that I could get along with romantically and after a string of failed entanglements, I took the advice of a friend and joined what was then a well known "Dating Site" after liking a particular profile and having quite a few months of late night conversations via the app I agreed to meet him in a place that I felt comfortable in and was so happy that I did, He turned out to be a really genuine lovely bloke with the most incredible blue eyes that I happily got lost in from the first moment that I saw him. All that was Quite a few years ago now and next month we celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, it has not all been Wine and Roses and I will happily admit to wanting to strangle him at times but I am so happy that I took that leap of faith to meet him in person, not all members of dating sites are Phsycotic, there are many who are genuine but we only hear about the bad ones, I really feel for those who have been burned.

 

[deni67]

Finding it difficult to meet a man that I could get along with romantically and after a string of failed entanglements, I took the advice of a friend and joined what was then a well known "Dating Site" after liking a particular profile and having quite a few months of late night conversations via the app I agreed to meet him in a place that I felt comfortable in and was so happy that I did, He turned out to be a really genuine lovely bloke with the most incredible blue eyes that I happily got lost in from the first moment that I saw him. All that was Quite a few years ago now and next month we celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, it has not all been Wine and Roses and I will happily admit to wanting to strangle him at times but I am so happy that I took that leap of faith to meet him in person, not all members of dating sites are Phsycotic, there are many who are genuine but we only hear about the bad ones, I really feel for those who have been burned.

They do get tarred and feathered, like the one person on here that said "all dating sites are fake", that is just not true.
You prove that yourself, congratulations!

 

[magpie1]

ANYONE WHO LENDS MONEY IS A WONDERFUL PERSON. IT IS THE PERSON WHO TAKES IT THAT IS BEING IN THE WRONG. SURELY YOU COULD AFFORD TO MOVE HOUSE WITHOUT YANKEE DOLLARS.

C'mon Jest....you have absolutely no idea about this person nor their financial position....let them do what they have arranged to help them out with their house move....I would only hope that they repay the persons kindness toward them as soon as possible. ps....lending someone some money to help them out when times are tough has been commonplace in this country since before I was born.....I've done it often myself with close mates and even work colleagues who need some financial help over the years.

 

[Luckyus]

I have always found that freindships evolve over time, unless you've shared the same foxhole? which over the years we have joked about!.