How To Avoid Romance Scams

Many people look for love every day. They might do so by talking to the person on the bar stool next to them. They might have a conversation with the attractive individual they’ve spotted at their local laundromat. Others might look for a friend to set them up on a blind date.

However, people look for love on dating apps and online more than ever. Some use social media and find potential mates that way. When you do that, you might find success, but you also open yourself up to potential dating scams.

The police sometimes call dating scams romance scams, or they might use the term catfishing. Romance scams are on the rise, and you should know how to avoid them. We’ll talk about how you can do that in the following article.

How Often Do These Scams Happen?

Romance scams cost individuals $304 million in 2020. Seemingly, that number goes up each year. You might think that only the more gullible people out there can fall victim to one of these schemes, but that’s not necessarily the case.

If you feel like you’ve established a genuine connection with someone, they might scam you because you want to believe that what you feel is real. That’s why you must remain on your guard whenever someone you met online starts talking about money.

Don’t Give Money to Anyone You’ve Never Met Before

In many ways, we’re living in a scammers age. Some people say it’s harder to find someone with whom they’re compatible through more conventional means. More relationships than ever start through dating apps and social media now.

In many typical dating scenarios, you’ll sign up for a dating app, and then someone will match with you. You will probably talk to them online for a while before you agree to meet in person. You’re trying to ascertain whether you’re a good match for each other.

You might have a situation, though, where someone will talk about themselves, and they’ll send you flirtatious messages. They’ll send you pictures, possibly racy ones. However, they’ll make excuses for why they can’t meet you in person.

Then, they’ll ask for money. They may ask for that cash to buy a plane ticket to come to visit you if they claim they live in another state or in another country. They might ask for money because they’ll say a family member needs an operation or something to that effect.

You should know that these scenarios are almost always scams. This person does not exist, at least not in the way they’re depicting themselves. They never intend to meet with you. All they want is your money, and they’ve conjured up a fictitious identity to try and get it out of you.

Also, Check – 4 Signs Your Relationship Is Falling Apart

Demand to Meet Them with No Money Changing Hands First

Usually, the best way to flush out a scammer is to tell them that you’re happy to meet with them, but you won’t give them any money until you do. That way, you’re putting the ball squarely in their court.

Tell them that you don’t trust them because you’ve never met them before. You should be very frank about that. Inform them that you know there are a lot of scammers out there, and you’d never feel comfortable sending someone money until you’ve established a closer relationship with them. Tell them that starts with you meeting them in person.

When you do that, it will almost always reveal whether you’re dealing with a real person or a fictitious identity. If it becomes clear you won’t send any money, gift cards, or whatever else this person wants until you meet with them face to face, they will usually back off.

Even if You Meet Them in Person, Stay Wary

Every once in a while, you might convince a scammer to meet with you in person. Even then, don’t give them any money on the first date.

It’s not inconceivable that this person, even if they exist, is still trying to get money out of you, and that’s their main reason for contacting you. They might exist, but if they start talking about money right after you meet them or soon after, you need to look at the situation objectively.

No one should ask someone they’re dating for money or gifts unless you’ve taken some time to get to know each other. If you keep that clearly in mind, you can sniff out and avoid most romance scam attempts.