So, you found your perfect match. They’re attractive, kind, laugh at all your jokes, and they have the same interests as you. You haven’t met yet because they live in another state or country.

Every time you make plans to finally meet in person, they have a convincing excuse as to why they can’t. Recently, they’ve told you they have a sick family member and asked you to wire them money to help pay for medical costs. When you hesitate or ask for details, they get upset and accuse you of not caring about them. If this sounds familiar, you may be engaging with a scammer online.

According to a 2023 study by Pew Research, 53% of Americans ages 18 to 29 and 37% of Americans ages 30 to 39 have used a dating platform. While online dating can be a great way to build a genuine connection with someone, it’s important to be careful with how much information you share online. Scammers can use these dating platforms to exploit unsuspecting individuals for financial gain. You can protect yourself from romance scams with these tips.

Do not share your personal information online.

Online or not, dating is a vulnerable experience. When people are getting to know each other, a lot of personal information is shared. As the scammer gets to know you, they will adapt their behavior and interests to become your “perfect match.” Beware if the person you’re talking to seems too good to be true.

Scammers will lure you into a sense of security and then pry for sensitive information. Never share personal information such as your address, social security number, credit card numbers, or banking information.

Verify the identity of the person you are talking to.

Scammers will often steal someone else’s photos as bait. You can do an image search using the profile picture of the person you are talking to. If the photo appears in other online profiles, they may be an imposter. If the person you are talking to refuses to meet in person, this is also a red flag.

Be wary of isolation.

Scammers will often try to isolate you from your friends and family and turn you against them. You should feel comfortable telling your family and friends about your online relationship and seeking their input. If something seems off, it’s a good idea to get a second opinion from someone you trust.

Never give money to anyone you’ve met online.

Scammers will give convincing reasons as to why you should send them money. Once they gain your trust, they will ask you for help to pay for medical expenses, to purchase their plane ticket to visit you, or to help them get out of trouble.

Scammers are experienced in getting victims to send money. They want to be paid and will give detailed instructions to get you to wire money through your bank or a money transfer app, send cryptocurrency, or purchase online gift cards for them. Beware of these requests. You should never send money to someone you haven’t met in person, no matter how long you’ve been in contact.

Report the scammer.

If you suspect you are talking to a scammer online, end all contact with them. You should report their online profile on whatever dating site or app you are using.

If you have wired money to the scammer, notify your bank immediately. Your bank will report the fraudulent activity and may assist you with attempting to get the money back.

Poppy Bank is here to help protect your finances. If you suspect you may be a victim of fraud, please contact (888) 636-9994 or visit your local branch for assistance.

We hope these tips empower you to identify and avoid romance scams so that you can protect your heart and your wallet.

Member FDIC