An email I received from the Australian Gov "Stay Smart Online Alert Service".
Romance scammers are incorporating increasingly realistic looking social media accounts into their scams, including stealing photos from legitimate users to present genuine looking profiles.
If you receive unsolicited emails or other messages that hint at a relationship or romance, you should immediately be suspicious that it is a scam. Do not respond.
Romance scams often start with casual requests for contact. It could come through email, social media, an online dating website or many other possible channels. Sometimes these requests are quite subtle, seeking friendship or a chat, while other examples can be quite forward and more explicit, such as the recent example below:
Hi my name is Hanna just trying to meet new people online while i am here on this site. I am looking for some good and honest friends or maybe more than friends who can take care of me and love me understand me and protect me. If you are interested to know me better just hit me up okay. I will wait you and do you have phone number or IM yahoo Messenger so that i can text you and and then i can send my naked pics. Hope you like them am looking forward to hear back from you again.
This email example included an attached photo of ‘Hanna’ as well as links to her fake social media accounts which featured realistic content and other photos. The photos were stolen from a real person’s Tumblr site (a popular micro-blogging platform and social networking website).
Spam messages such as this can be sent to thousands or even millions of potential victims.
Romance Scams
Romance or online dating scammers aim to establish an online relationship with a victim, with a view to eventually convincing the victim to send them money.
Online dating sites and services are common starting points for scammers, but they will also use any other options available, such as email or social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, as well as mobile apps like Tinder.
Developing social media profiles around a fake identity and adding stolen photos of real people helps make their scams seem more convincing.
Once a conversation has started, the scammer will seek to build the relationship and win the victim’s trust. Eventually there will be a request for money. Typically this is couched in an entirely understandable need, such as a medical emergency or simply to purchase tickets to visit the victim.
Requests for money can be slowly introduced and may take many months to emerge. Requests are usually carefully disguised to avoid suspicion. Scammers may even deny initial offers of money.
With romance scams already notorious, scammers are aware that making requests may arouse suspicion. They will operate carefully and take time to gain trust.
In some cases, if a victim has become suspicious and refuses to send money, scammers have resorted to threatening, intimidating or even blackmailing their victim.
If you are ever asked for money through a relationship you have online, or if you suspect you are the victim of a scam, contact your local police.