A THREE-WORD phrase said too soon is an immediate red flag, and could mean you’re being primed for a scam.
Recognising the signs of a too-good-to-be-true swindle are essential to stopping a fraudster taking off with your hard-earned cash.
Scammers will employ any and every tactic they have to get what they want from victims.
Nothing is off limits. Not even love.
Cyber crooks often take advantage of people looking for their perfect match on online dating sites like Tinder and Plenty of Fish.
So if you encounter a mysterious profile the rushes into saying “I love you,” too soon – watch out.
It’s one of the most common red flags when it comes to romance scammers.
But there are five more giveaways.
It’s perfectly normal to chat online for a few days to weeks before going on a first, in-person, date.
But it’s not normal to be strung along for months, or even years, with the promise of eventually meeting face-to-face.
Romance scammers often pretend to live far away so they can keep up the con – because they are rarely who they say they are.
Flirty fraudsters will also avoid video calls at all costs.
Their profile will be one intended to scam people, and will likely include stock photos of models, or ones pulled from strangers’ social media pages.
They might agree to voice calls, but hopping onto FaceTime or Skype will immediately give up their ruse.
In modern dating, it’s unlikely an honest dater will not want to wait months for a face-to-face date or go without video chats.
So it’s up to the scammer to string them along with excuses and false promises for as long as they can.
If a trend like this is emerging in your online relationship, take a step back and evaluate.
If a mysterious match feels tailor-made for you, they just might be.
Scammers may pimp out their profiles with photos that match your specific interests.
No worthwhile love interest is going to rope you into their financial woes before a first date or video chat.
Asking for financial help is a major red flag when it comes to romance scams – particularly if it feels like you’re really getting along.
After hooking their target, crooks will always ask for money – or sensitive information like your financial details – eventually.
They may also ask victims to transfer their stolen cash into new accounts, making them an unknowing accomplice in money laundering.
USE the following tips to protect yourself from fraudsters.
