Beware of Romance Scams: Protect Your Heart and Wallet in the Digital Age

In our increasingly digital world, even intimate relationships are formed online. However, it's crucial to remember that not everything online is as it seems. Stories of prospective life partners turning out to be fraudsters and seemingly trustworthy online friends being offenders are all too common. As digital users, we must exercise care and caution, becoming aware and alert to avoid heartbreak and financial loss.

Understanding Online Romance Scams

An online romance scam occurs when a fraudster creates a fake profile to trap a victim, convincing them to part with their hard-earned money under various pretenses.

Dangers of Romance Scams:

• Trapped in fake online relationships
• Financial loss
• Blackmail
• Heartbreak
• Depression

Common Causes of Romance Scams:

• Relying on online dating platforms like Tinder and Bumble
• Fake profiles on matrimonial sites
• Increased use of social meeting apps like Facebook Dating and extramarital dating apps like Gleeden
• Loneliness or anxiety due to isolation, especially during COVID-19

Who Are the Potential Victims?

While anyone can fall victim to these scams, certain groups are often targeted:

• Women
• Middle-aged individuals
• Widowers
• People with romantic idealizations
• Those with impulsiveness and relational addiction

Modus Operandi:

1. Contact Initiation: The fraudster creates a fake profile and establishes contact with the victim, forming a fake bond.
2. Bond Building: Using empathy and affection, the fraudster strengthens the bond with the victim.
3. Financial Requests: The fraudster convinces the victim to send money online using methods like gift cards, UPI payments, bank transfers, or reloadable debit cards.
4. Disappearance: After extracting the money, the fraudster may cut off contact and disappear, sometimes using intimate photos to extort more money.

Warning Signs:

• Friend requests from unknown individuals
• Expressing love or affection too soon
• Being overly empathetic and obliging
• Avoiding in-person meetings
• Inconsistencies in shared details
• Requests for financial help or gifts

Hypothetical Case Study:

Latha, a successful software engineer in her 30s from Hyderabad, created a profile on a popular matrimony site. She met "Rohan," who claimed to be a highly placed government officer. After gaining her trust, Rohan asked Latha for money due to a supposed emergency. Trusting him, Latha sent the money, only to find out later that Rohan was a fraudster named Raghuveer. He disappeared after taking her money, leaving Latha heartbroken and financially strained.

Safety Tips:

1. Verify Platforms: Check the authenticity of dating apps or matrimonial sites before registering.
2. Protect Personal Information: Do not share personal details like your phone number or address publicly on these sites.
3. Be Cautious with Private Information: Never share private pictures, bank account details, or other financial information with people you have recently met online.
4. Background Checks: Conduct thorough background checks before proceeding in a relationship. Consider using an investigative agency.
5. Meet in Person: Always meet online acquaintances in a public place and ask probing questions.
6. Avoid Financial Requests: Never entertain money requests from online acquaintances.
7. Beware of Investment Schemes: Be cautious of investment opportunities presented by online acquaintances, especially those urging quick action.
8. Inform a Neutral Party: Keep a neutral person informed about your interactions for objective advice.
9. Privacy Settings: Enable privacy and security features on social media to keep your information private.
10. Reject Strangers: Do not accept friend requests from strangers without proper verification.

Reporting and Recovery:

• If you suspect a scam, end the relationship and report it.
• File a complaint with your nearest cybercrime cell or online at www.cybercrime.gov.in.
• Report the scammer on the platform where the scam occurred.
• If you've shared banking details, follow bank protocols for necessary action.
• Learn from the experience, go easy on yourself, and move forward.