Scam alert: Romance scams targeting Canadians isolated due to COVID-19
While Valentine's Day can be a great way to spend some time with the person you love, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is reminding the public to stay vigilant for romance scams, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout the pandemic, there has been an increase in online scams targeting people who are isolated due to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, particularly scammers targeting individuals looking for "companionship or love" through social media and dating sites.
In 2020, Canadians lost more than $18.5 million to romance scams.
How to romance scams commonly work?
Romance scams usually begin when a fraudster convinces someone to enter into an online relationship through social media and dating sites, to gain trust and affection to ultimately take their money.
Scammers will start by telling you they live nearby but, soon enough, they must go overseas for work, a medical emergency, to collect an inheritance, etc. This opens up the reasons for which they can then ask you for money. #RomanceScams #FraudChat https://t.co/RMUTzc7VDb
— Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (@canantifraud) February 11, 2021
Scammers commonly ask for money for travel or a medical of family emergency. They also may ask the victim to invest in cryptocurrency, join a business venture or receive money for the scammer, not knowing they may be committing a crime.
Common personas that scammers use: soldier in the army, oil worker, business person, gems dealer, and celebrities. They often steal the photos of real people to be the face of their fraud. #RomanceScams #FraudChat https://t.co/RMUTzc7VDb
— Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (@canantifraud) February 11, 2021
The CAFC has warned that scammers may ask to move the conversation outside of social media or a dating site, including email, text messages, Whatsapp and Google Hangouts. Some of the personas a fraudster may use in a romance scams are soldier in the army, oil worker, business person, gems dealer and celebrities.
These scammers continue to make excises for why they cannot meet in person and will often discourage the victim from talking about their relationship with friends and family, in an attempt to isolate the individual from anyone who may suspect their are falling for a scam.
The messages may also be poorly or oddly written, sometimes addressing someone with the wrong name.
Remain vigilant! #RomanceScams are often followed by recovery scams. The scammers may pretend to be from a government or law enforcement agency and promise to be able to get your money back. To get your money back, you need to pay advanced fees. #FraudChat https://t.co/9XM3MB3dmN
— Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (@canantifraud) February 11, 2021
The CAFC has also warned that romance scams are often followed by recovery scams, when fraudsters target a victim a second time, promising to get their money back.
Scams should be reported to the CAFC and local police.
