super common these days.

loneliness, extreme loneliness makes them easy marks. it starts as a person to talk to...

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Romance scams are deceptive schemes where fraudsters use fake online identities to build romantic relationships with victims, ultimately to manipulate them into sending money or sharing personal information. These scams often start on dating apps or social media and can involve a variety of tactics, including fabricating stories of hardship, promising investment opportunities, or making excuses for avoiding in-person meetings.

Here's a more detailed look at romance scams:

How Romance Scams Work:
Building Trust:
Scammers create fake profiles and quickly try to build a strong connection with their target, often expressing strong emotions and a desire for a serious relationship.

Asking for Money:
Once trust is established, scammers will start asking for money, usually under some kind of emergency or pretext, such as medical bills, travel expenses, or investments.

Manipulating Victims:
Scammers may use various tactics to manipulate victims, including guilt-tripping, offering false promises, or creating a sense of urgency.

Avoiding Face-to-Face Meetings:
Scammers will often avoid video calls or in-person meetings, citing various excuses like being stationed overseas, sick, or having a family emergency.

Using Fake Identities:
Scammers use stolen photos or fabricated information to create a false online persona.
Protecting Yourself:

Be Skeptical:
If you are unsure about a new online connection, be cautious and slow down the process of building a relationship.

Never Send Money:
Never send money or financial information to someone you haven't met in person or through a legitimate channel.

Verify Information:
Do reverse image searches and cross-reference information provided by your online contact with other sources.

Share Your Suspicions:
Talk to trusted friends or family members about your online connection and any concerns you have.
Report Suspicious Activity:
If you suspect you have been targeted by a romance scam, report it to the appropriate authorities.

Signs of a Romance Scam:
Too Good to Be True: Scammers may express strong emotions quickly and make extravagant promises.

Excuses for Avoiding Meetings: Scammers will often avoid face-to-face or video calls, citing various excuses.

Requests for Money: Scammers will often ask for money under the guise of an emergency or investment opportunity.

Personal Information Requests: Scammers may ask for a lot of personal information too quickly.

Isolation from Friends and Family: Scammers may try to isolate victims from their support network.

If You've Been Scammed:
Stop Communicating: Immediately stop communicating with the scammer and block them.

Report the Scam: Report the scam to the website where you met the scammer, your bank, and the relevant authorities.
Protect Your Financial Information: Monitor your bank accounts and credit cards for any suspicious activity.

Seek Support: Talk to friends, family, or a therapist to help process your emotions.

Am i the only one here who felt a bit of pinch at the idea mid 60's is 'elder'?

LOL ... I just hit it....

Buncha a-holes :D

I just a baby coot ...

Haha, me too.

I don't think of myself as elder, but I've noticed that everyone else around the place is so young :eek:

Watched a movie an Amazon last night called the Beekeeper that was based on an elderly woman who is scammed out of her life savings and an account for a charity she ran for $2M. It was recommended as I was talking to a couple moms of friends on Mother's Day about internet scams. It's an action, bang-bang, explosions, shoot em type of flick that usually is not my thing, but ended up watching the entire thing.

I suggested my folks and sister watch it even if just for the 1st 20 minutes or so to see how the scam went down and emotions were played upon.

LOL. I guess I didn't notice because I've got a few years to go.

No offense intended... Probably should have said ignorant, naive, or sheltered? Marriage of 30+ years ended recently. World has changed a bit since the 80's.

LOL .... I don't mind being called ignorant or naive ....

....just don't call me elderly :D

BTW ... too bad on the breakup .... seen that a lot too...

Best to you...

My wife had drinks with a friend the other day. She brought another friend of hers. She was a bit older, roughly late 70s. She came home shaking her head. The older lady has a new "boyfriend" in Bali, much younger than her. She is building a home on some property he owns, helping one of his kids with "college costs", there was more. Ugh, poor thing, hopefully someone will talk some sense into her before all of her money is gone. They tried, she didn't want to hear any of it.

Twice I got a phone call from a relative that was in trouble. the first was at my house. the second, I was just lucky to answer my 94 yr old father's phone.
The first one was my nephew got arrested after flying to New York for a good friends wedding.
I live in calif. It was pretty good but knew it was a scam.

The second one was real good. At my aging Father's and picked up the phone.
Told him I was my Dad and that before I sent the money, I needed to talk to my wife. Oh boy... don't let her know. it got right up to the point where we would transfer bank account numbers and then (on speaker phone) with his care giiver listening, I told him to "F" Off and hung up.