You and I are one and the same: we both know what a broken heart feels like. I'm so lucky to have found you.
I really miss you. What have you been up to this past week?
While these sweet words may sound like music to anyone's ears, they could also be a ploy used by scammers to catfish you and try to prompt you to reveal more about your personal life.
If you've never met this person in real life, you should be extra careful. Scammers may invest time in building up a certain level of trust with you to become a regular fixture in your life. Once that happens, things could quickly start to go wrong:
I've been travelling and I'm out of town right now, so I can't meet up with you. Also, can you believe my bad luck? My webcam has just stopped working!
I'm a little short on cash right now. Could you help me out by wiring some money to tide me over? Even a few thousand dollars would help.
When someone you consider your 'online soulmate' is constantly making excuses not to meet up and is always asking you for money, would you still believe you've found 'the one'?
Always stay alert. Never send money to people you don't know much about. Don't give in to the initial rush of emotions you may feel after finding a connection with someone online. Take a pause, look out for red flags and take these steps before shelling out.
Love scammers are well-versed at their art of deception and know exactly how to tug at your heartstrings. Don't let their sweet talk lure you into handing over your money, bank details or other personal data.
If you think you've already experienced a scam, don't wait any longer and report it to us immediately.
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