Romance Scams - NW Preferred Federal Credit Union

Romance scams: the deceptive heartstrings pull

Romance scams are a dangerous form of cyberattack where scammers prey on individuals seeking companionship or love, often on dating apps or social media platforms. These scammers exploit emotions and vulnerabilities, building fake relationships to manipulate victims into sending money or sensitive information.

How it works:

• Scammers create fake profiles, often using stolen photos of attractive individuals to appear trustworthy and appealing.
• They establish an emotional connection over weeks or months, pretending to be someone the victim can trust.
• The scammer begins to ask for money, claiming it’s for emergencies, travel, or medical issues, often creating fabricated scenarios to pressure the victim into helping.
• In some cases, they may ask for personal information or use the relationship to extract more sensitive data.

Example:

You meet someone online who claims to be a soldier stationed overseas. They quickly profess their love for you, but after several weeks of chatting, they explain they need money for a "crisis" to return home and see you. Feeling a deep emotional bond, you wire money—only to discover the person you’ve been communicating with doesn’t exist at all, and the money is gone.

✩ Tips:

• Be wary of quick confessions of love: Scammers often rush emotional connections to create a sense of urgency.
• Never send money to someone you've just met online: A genuine relationship does not begin with financial requests.
• Investigate the person’s profile: Use reverse image searches to check if the photos are stolen from other sources.
• Trust your instincts: If something feels off, take a step back and assess the situation carefully.
• Report suspicious behavior: Many online platforms have ways to report scammers and help protect others.

Remember:

We will never contact you by phone, email, or text asking you to provide money, personal information, or financial details, including account numbers, passwords, or social security numbers. If someone you’ve met online requests money or sensitive information, it’s a red flag—don’t engage, and report it immediately.

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