With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, South Australians are being reminded to be vigilant when looking for love online.
Commissioner for Consumer Affairs Brett Humphrey said the more than one-and-a-half-million-dollars lost to romance scams last year by South Australians was a stark reminder that unscrupulous con artists were out in force in the online dating world.
“Online dating has become very much a part of modern life, and it is a great way to meet people – but it can also be fraught with danger,” he said.
“Cold, calculating scammers often lie in wait – ready to prey on people at their most vulnerable.
“That’s why it’s so important for people to be on their guard – these scammers often play the long game, waiting for months before they show their true intent.”
Mr Humphrey said scammers typically use two methods: ‘romance baiting’, where they groom people into fake investment opportunities, often involving cryptocurrency or traditional romance scams, where they build emotional connections over extended periods - even months or years - before requesting money or pressuring people into making dodgy money transfers.
“Red flags to be on the lookout for are elaborate cover stories about working overseas or in military deployment as a way of avoiding meeting face-to-face, trying to encourage secrecy – and discourage discussing a relationship with friends or family – and asking for money,” he said.
“Importantly, there are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself.
“Take your time to build a relationship, and be on the lookout for inconsistencies in their stories; watch out for people who can’t meet in person, and who avoid video calls on short notice; use reverse image searches such as Google or TinEye to verify profile photos and never send money or personal information – such as identity documents, personal details or bank information – to someone you haven’t met face to face.”
To learn more about romance scams – including the types of scams, the red flags, and what to do if you think you’ve been scammed - visit www.cbs.sa.gov.au/romance-scams.
