Romance Scammers

What you need to know about Romance Scams. In this day and age lots of people are turning to online dating apps or social networking sites to meet someone. But instead of finding romance, many find a scammer trying to trick them into sending money.

The romance scams was 1 of the biggest reported losses over any other scams that was reported. Romance scammers create fake profiles on dates sites and apps, or they will target and contact through popular social media sites like Facebook, Instagram extra.

Here are just some of the lies they would tell you.

I am working on an oil rig

I am in the military

I am a doctor with an international organization

Here are some ways they will ask you for money and target you to send it to them and will ask you to wire the money or send it in a gift card.

Pay for a plane ticket

Pay for surgery

Pay for a visa or other official travel document

Scammers ask you to pay by wiring money, with reload card, or with gift cards because they can get cash quickly and remain anonymous. They also know the transactions are almost impossible to reverse. Avoid losing money to a romance scammer and here is how.

Stop communication immediately

Talk to someone you trust about what is going on and get some advice

Do a search for the person job, profile, family or friends and ask questions re that

Do a reverse image search of the person profile picture

If you have any feeling this is a scammer or an uncertain feeling report it. Do not get yourself caught up losing money and braking your heart!

Contact us on 0211100422 or Email contact@osint.co.za 

Are you Dating an Online Scammer?

Dating scams cost unsuspecting people money as well as heartache each and every year, but still people continue to fall for the tricks and so online dating scams continue to rise.

These cybercriminals will play a long game to cheat you out of your money, rather than using a simple phishing email or scam. If you are using an online dating app or chatting on social media, please be aware that these cybercriminals do exist and you could even dating one!

Be sure to look out for these signs to tell if the person you’re dating online is actually a scammer!

1. Suspicious Profile

A typical scammers dating profile will have only a few images that have been posted recently. Most often these images are model or glamour stock photos. They’re looking for singles in your area, but they work or live in another country. Be wary if the profile has limited information and only one or two photos.

2. Moving the Conversation

Online dating scammers will try their best to move the conversation to another form of messaging such as Skype, Facebook, WhatsAppor SMS. If they try and take the conversation elsewhere – be on alert!

3. Professing their Love

You’ve just started chatting and they profess their love for you and gush about the deep emotional connection you have. This is all a way to emotional manipulate you, especially if you are feeling isolated and vulnerable at the time. Always lookout for those who are overly flattering in the early stages of the communication.

4. Something always comes up

A common line used by scammers is planning to meet up with you but then an unexpected issue always comes up just before it happens. Because they can’t meet up with you, this might even be one of the first reasons they ask you for money, perhaps they’ll lie and say they don’t have money for a plane ticket or to travel.

5. Avoiding Video Chat

Did you know that the majority of online dating scams go back to those living in Nigeria? So they may avoid phone calls or voice chats because their accents and appearance will give them away. No matter where they are from, someone scamming you will be using fake photos so they will always make excuses not to video chat. Do not be fooled by someone who says they love you and then blames shyness for not wanted to communicate over video.

6. Requesting Money

The ultimate goal that an online dating scammer has is to rob you of your money, so there are a range of scenarios they will make up. Some of the most popular include: a sick family member or emergency, health issues and travel problems. You are definitely the target of a scam if you ever get any kind of financial request!

7. Assisting with Financial Transactions

A newer kind of online dating scam is turning the victim into a money mule or money laundering accomplice! Be on full alert if you are ever asked to do any kind of financial transaction or exchange, they would possibly be luring you into doing something illegal.

If you choose to date online, please be sure to take the right measures to protect yourself and overall just use your common sense.

If you think you’ve been a victim of an online dating scam or perhaps you think you might be dating a scammer right now – contact the OSINT department in South Africa on 021 110 0422 or email contact@osint.co.za | alternatively visit the website to find out more www.osint.co.za