URGENT WARNING: Don't fall victim to this cruel Valentine's Day scam!
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Valentine's Day is a time for love and companionship, but it's also a prime opportunity for heartless scammers to prey on those looking for romance.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has issued an urgent warning about a heartless scam that's been sweeping the nation.
Known as 'pig butchering' or 'romance baiting,' this scam targets lonely singles on dating apps and social media channels, exploiting their desire for connection to swindle them out of their hard-earned money.
Commander of Cybercrime Operations at the AFP, Chris Goldsmith, shed light on this insidious scam.
He explained that it often begins with an innocent message attempting to establish a relationship.
'It can be on social media, or it can be dating apps they will use to target their victims,' Goldsmith said.
'It will start with a text message from an unknown number, which the scammer will then use to try to establish a relationship—often friendship—but it may turn into a romantic relationship.'
The scammers are patient, investing significant time and effort into building a relationship with their victims.
'We see a significant amount of time and effort criminals will invest in building relationships of trust—this will be built over weeks and months,' Goldsmith added.
'Then from there, it will move into an investment opportunity, trying to trick the victim into investing money, typically in crypto-investment scams.'
Goldsmith revealed that 'tens of thousands' of dollars have been lost to these romance scams, causing significant emotional and financial distress to the victims.
He warned of certain 'red flags' to look out for, including the scammer's refusal to meet in person.
'They will often create reasons or excuses about why they can’t meet face-to-face,' he said, adding that this should serve as a major warning.
The sophistication of these scams is alarming.
Scammers often use fake websites and investment platforms to lure victims in, making their fraudulent schemes appear legitimate.
'It is about sucking people in and getting them, tricking them, to investing into these fraudulent investment scams to take their money.'
Have you, or someone you know, ever been targeted by a romance scam? Share your experiences and tips on how to avoid this in the comments below. Let's help each other stay safe this Valentine's Day.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has issued an urgent warning about a heartless scam that's been sweeping the nation.
Known as 'pig butchering' or 'romance baiting,' this scam targets lonely singles on dating apps and social media channels, exploiting their desire for connection to swindle them out of their hard-earned money.
Commander of Cybercrime Operations at the AFP, Chris Goldsmith, shed light on this insidious scam.
He explained that it often begins with an innocent message attempting to establish a relationship.
The AFP warned about romance scams targeting singles, especially on Valentine’s Day. Image source: Freepik.
'It can be on social media, or it can be dating apps they will use to target their victims,' Goldsmith said.
'It will start with a text message from an unknown number, which the scammer will then use to try to establish a relationship—often friendship—but it may turn into a romantic relationship.'
The scammers are patient, investing significant time and effort into building a relationship with their victims.
'We see a significant amount of time and effort criminals will invest in building relationships of trust—this will be built over weeks and months,' Goldsmith added.
'Then from there, it will move into an investment opportunity, trying to trick the victim into investing money, typically in crypto-investment scams.'
Goldsmith revealed that 'tens of thousands' of dollars have been lost to these romance scams, causing significant emotional and financial distress to the victims.
He warned of certain 'red flags' to look out for, including the scammer's refusal to meet in person.
'They will often create reasons or excuses about why they can’t meet face-to-face,' he said, adding that this should serve as a major warning.
The sophistication of these scams is alarming.
Scammers often use fake websites and investment platforms to lure victims in, making their fraudulent schemes appear legitimate.
'It is about sucking people in and getting them, tricking them, to investing into these fraudulent investment scams to take their money.'
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