The phrase “romance scam” has become synonymous with online dating and romance scams. The same rules apply to these schemes, and victims should always be wary of them. In addition to causing a lot of stress, romance scams can also lead to criminal charges, which can include up to 20 years in prison. This article focuses on the dangers of such schemes and the ways you can protect yourself. Let’s look at the common red flags of romance fraud.
The first thing to keep in mind is that this scam is not purely romantic in nature. It can also be disguised as a false job scheme and involves establishing trust through a fake employment relationship. The scammers operate from Nigeria, and are usually based in overseas locations. These scammers also use fake phone numbers and sometimes even hire actors to communicate with their victims. Once they’ve taken a victim’s money, they will often disappear.
The second warning sign of romance scams is an advance-fee scam. This scammer tells the victim that they need to marry in order to inherit millions of dollars of gold. The young woman contacts the scammer and pays an advance fee to the scammer. Unfortunately, she can’t leave the country without the gold, which means paying taxes on it and getting married. This situation leaves the victim unable to inherit her fortune until she gets married.