Chicago – On Valentine’s Day, Attorney General Kwame Raoul urged residents of Illinois to exercise caution when engaging in online dating to avoid falling prey to romance scams.
“You may be hoping to meet a special someone online or through a dating app this Valentine’s Day, but be mindful of red flags that could indicate they are not who they claim to be. Romance scammers take advantage of victims’ openness and trust,” Raoul stated. “If you think you may be a victim of a romance scam, do not let any embarrassment deter you from seeking help or filing a complaint with my office.”
Raoul provided several guidelines for individuals to protect themselves from online romance scams:
Online scammers frequently create fake profiles or impersonate celebrities and may reach out via social media. A reverse image search can help identify if the profile photo is used under different names or appears on multiple sources, indicating it might be fake.
Be cautious about messages from strangers on social media attempting to start conversations. Such contact is likely targeting you for a scam rather than being friendly or mistaken identity.
When using dating platforms, communicate within the platform until comfortable with the other person’s intentions. Be wary if someone quickly wants to move communication off-platform as this can be an attempt by scammers to gather personal information undetected by moderators and law enforcement.
Protect your privacy by using separate usernames and emails for dating sites or apps. Avoid sharing private information or photos with online acquaintances since these can lead to identity theft or extortion.
Exercise caution when downloading attachments or clicking links shared by online contacts as these might contain malware designed to compromise your device. Verify links through reputable search engines and ensure devices have updated antivirus protection.
Be suspicious if an online connection avoids video calls or in-person meetings, citing reasons like bad internet connections, security issues, international work commitments, etc., as these are common excuses used by scammers.
Do not share financial details such as bank account numbers with anyone met online nor send money via wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency, etc., even if they claim urgent needs like medical bills or family emergencies; such requests are red flags.
Inform trusted friends or family members about new relationships initiated online as outsiders might better spot warning signs ignored due to emotional involvement.
If funds have already been sent, beware of recovery scams where individuals promise asset recovery for upfront payment—these too are fraudulent schemes.
Attorney General Raoul reminds Illinoisans that anyone can become a victim without reason for shame. Victims should save all communications records and cease contact with the perpetrator while blocking associated accounts. Report profiles on respective platforms and inform local police alongside agencies like the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and FTC. In cases involving cryptocurrency scams additional reports might need filing with entities like SEC and CFTC depending on circumstances involved.
Consumers suspecting victimization should report incidents via the Attorney General's website or contact Consumer Fraud Hotlines at 1-800-386-5438 (Chicago), 1-866-310-8398 (Español), 1-800-243-0618 (Springfield), 1-800-243-0607 (Carbondale).