Feb. 3, 2023 — Scammers using fake online dating site profiles are finding victims to send them money, and falling for such a love scam can cost more than a fancy Valentine’s dinner.
Phony profiles, often be located outside of the U.S., will use pictures of other people lifted from social media sites. Verify people are who they say they are by reverse image-searching the picture.
Scammers will say they are in the military, a doctor for an international organization or working on an oil rig. They quickly form relationships with victims by professing their love. They typically convince victims they need money for emergencies, hospital bills or travel to meet them. The scammers will ask victims to wire money to an offshore bank account using Western Union or Money Gram.
These scams are very common and take money from vulnerable people. If this happens to you or someone you know, report it on the Federal Trade Commission website.
The National Cybersecurity Alliance is offering a “True Love or Candy-Coated Con: Identifying Romance Scams” webinar on Feb. 14 from 11 a.m. to noon.
If you have questions, contact CSUCI's Information Security team a infosec@csuci.edu or visit the website.
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