Latest news with #romancescams
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
This Viral Romance Scam Cost One Man $35K—Don't Fall for It
Online dating is more and more popular these days. Not only is it convenient, but it also offers more available singles than, say, your local coffee shop. While it does make meeting new people quite easy, these platforms also give way to more scammers. And with fake profiles, excessive flattery, or someone asking you for emergency money, it's all too easy to fall into the trap. Luckily, we turned to the experts to share all you need to know about common catfishing romance scams and how to keep yourself safe. What is catfishing and why is it so common in online dating? Though catfishing isn't a new concept, it's certainly rampant in the era of online dating and social media. When you're talking to someone online and something seems a little off, you may be dealing with a catfish. 'Catfishing used to simply refer to people who deceive others into going on a date with them by presenting themselves in a false and favorable way,' says Betsy Chung, PsyD, clinical psychologist and relationship expert at RAW dating app. 'Nowadays, you see people using catfishing to gratify their own sexual desires, meet their emotional needs for a long-term relationship, have an extra-marital affair as retaliation to hurt the victim or even try for financial gain.' One man lost $35K to a catfish posing as a beauty queen Recently, a Belgian man made headlines after traveling over 400 miles to meet Sophie Vouzelaud, a French model, after they had been exchanging correspondence and cultivating a romantic relationship—only the person he was communicating with wasn't Sophie at all. The man, Michel, had been talking with who he thought was the runner-up to Miss France in 2007 for weeks—even providing the scammer with $35,000. When he arrived at Sophie's home, he was met by her husband, who broke the news to him. Though unfortunate, situations like these are all too common, and though this individual fell into the scammer's trap, the signs pointed toward a fishy situation. Here, a look at some of the red flags to look out for. Red flags that may mean you're talking to a romance scammer If it feels like the person you're talking to has stepped out of a fairytale or a dream, it's probably too good to be true. 'Scammers will shower you with flattery, doing everything they can to get on your good side so you feel special and trust them quickly,' says Brooke Keels, PhD, LPC-MHSP, Chief Clinical Officer and LPC-Supervisor at Lighthouse Recovery. 'They might make big promises or say things like, 'I've never felt this way about anyone before,' even if you haven't known each other that long.' Chung adds that if you're having trouble finding the 'human' side to somebody, it's likely that you're talking to just 'parts' of somebody and not the whole person. Here, some easy-to-spot signs you may be talking to a catfish: You've been talking to this person for a while, and you still haven't spoken to them face-to-face (whether via video or in-person). Regardless of the excuses they might give for avoiding a video call, whether it be a broken camera or poor connection, this should be cause for suspicion. Their stories don't seem to add up. Though your judgement might be clouded by the promises they make or the flattering words they use, it's crucial to take a step back and think logically about the big picture. They're always making excuses for things or why they can't meet. Would you pursue a relationship with someone if you had no intention of ever meeting them in person? You divulge a lot more about yourself than they to you. Keeping their story vague allows them to keep up their charade more easily. You can't seem to find any information/profiles about them on the internet. While yes, some people prefer to live life offline, this person should have at least some online trace you can use as a reference. The most common catfishing scams, according to experts Thanks to technology, catfishing scams have changed over time. Still, some common ones include international or military romance scams, Sugar Daddy scams, or someone claiming to be an old connection from high school, explains Terri Orbuch, PhD, relationship expert at Orbuch says the catfisher may search for someone's photo online or come across their information and reach out, claiming that the person is amazing before even meeting. 'Another version of this is if the perpetrator starts by complimenting someone's profile before asking for money to help with a sick child or family member,' she says. Military romance scam One of the most common catfishing romance scams is military romance. 'In this one, the scammer creates a fake profile using pictures of a good-looking person in a military uniform and pretends to be stationed overseas,' says Keels. 'They use the fact that they're 'in the military' to play on people's emotions, saying things like communication is hard because of their job or location, making it easier to trick their target into believing them.' Rich crypto investor scam Another common scam is the rich crypto investor. Keels says that in this case, the scammer acts like a successful cryptocurrency trader or investor, showing off a life of luxury and promising their target they'll get rich, too. It won't be long before they ask for money or personal info, claiming that they need it to invest or transfer funds. The sugar daddy scam is similar as the person catfishing poses as a wealthy person who promises gifts or trips in exchange for affection. However, they manipulate people into giving them money or private information. Celebrity scams As stated earlier, if the situation seems too good to be true, there's a chance it is. While in some instances these sorts of scams include romantic elements, scammers will pose as celebrities and attempt to form bonds with vulnerable, unsuspecting fans and proceed to ask for money for false charities, VIP access and more. These scammers scout out targets by spotting commenters on celebrities' social media posts or followers of a specific star. How to avoid romantic scams According to Orbuch, the best way to avoid getting scammed romantically is to listen to your gut and go slowly. It's also important to research the person you're talking to by checking their online presence, looking into their photos, and spotting any inconsistent or inaccurate information. She also says not to be afraid to ask questions, as it's reasonable to want to know more about the person you're trying to connect with. Another way to avoid a catfish is to video call as much as you can. 'Scammers will often make excuses to avoid showing their face, but if they're the real deal, they'll want to connect in a more personal way,' says Keels. 'If they're always dodging video chats or giving weird reasons for not being able to, that's a huge red flag, and a genuine person will be excited to share that face-to-face connection, even if it's through a screen.' For more ways to protect yourself from scams Watch Out for This New Gmail AI Scam—Here's How to Keep Your Account Safe Consumers Warned About Advent Calendar Scam—Tips to Avoid Being Tricked by 'Too-Good' Deals Beyond the Swipe: SEI Club's Proven Approach to Safe and Authentic Matchmaking Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Romance scams roundup: All of the romance scams you should know to keep your heart and bank safe
Romance scams roundup: All of the romance scams you should know to keep your heart and bank safe It's a sad fact, but true — so many of today's most common scams work by preying on and exploiting trust, and our most human emotions. And that's even more true when it comes to online dating scams and romance scams, which take advantage of victims at their most vulnerable to break hearts and break the bank, too. There's no shame in falling for romance scams — the FTC reports at least 70,000 cases per year, with annual financial losses totaling about $1.3 billion — but there's also no shame in protecting your heart as best you can. If you've met someone new and want to make sure they are who they say they are, try running a quick background check before things get serious. Online dating can be scary enough as it is; Spokeo shares these common romance scams to keep an eye out for so you can focus less on heartbreak and more on feeling the love. Catfishing: Not Romantic At All While not all online dating scams are catfishing, the vast majority of them certainly are. Catfishing is the sketchy practice of hiding behind a fake online persona to mislead someone, and it's most commonly associated with two things: exploiting romantic interests and scamming people out of their money. In the case of catfishing romance scams, that's a one-two combo. This is where your Tinder scams, Bumble scams, Hinge scams, sliding-into-your-DMs scams, and the like typically fall. In this case, a potential romantic interest appears, complete with a fake profile, fake pics, and a fake (but often convincing) backstory. After a flirtation that can last anywhere from minutes to months, the catfisher comes for your money. That's usually when the scam goes from catfishing to catphishing, where phishing is the act of fooling you into divulging your private information (like passwords or bank account numbers) in order to target your finances. While that's the basic format of many online dating scams, catfishing-based romance scams come in a wide variety of flavors. And none of them are any good. Military Romance Scams Catfishing romance scammers might cook up an entirely fictional online persona, or even an AI-generated one, or they might appropriate pics and details from an existing, real-world person. In any case, one of their favorite types of people to impersonate is military personnel. For grifters, a faux military profile accomplishes a lot. It can easily appeal to the victim's empathy, plus it offers plenty of excuses for why they never can seem to meet in person (a hallmark of catfish) or why a long-distance relationship is more convenient. When the time comes to get money out of the victim — a process that can go on for months — the military-themed scammer commonly uses excuses like paying for internet, retirement planning or travel costs (none of which are expenses for people enlisted in real life). Oil Rig Scams This catfishing theme is very similar to military romance scams: Long story short, it's convenient for scammers to claim to be an oil rigger or someone of a similar occupation who likely works in a remote locale, doesn't have regular internet access, and has to travel for long periods. These types of rugged, dangerous occupations are also ripe for making monetary requests under the guise of medical and travel expenses. Similarly, faux lovers claiming to be international workers use the guise to ask for money to travel to you, or to get their goods through customs. Take one guess as to where that money actually ends up. Steamier Scammers Some catfishing-based romance scams really emphasize the romance. For instance, in one especially sneaky type of hustle, the con artist poses as a sugar mama or sugar daddy. It's common for these scammers to promise money in exchange for risque pics, which they can then use as ammunition for blackmail. Or, they might do a variation of an age-old scam where they pay you a large amount of money, and then ask for some back — sure enough, the money you've received is typically from a bum source, like a stolen credit card, so the funds will bounce, leaving you holding the bag. Scammers posing as widows or widowers are also all too common. Like military romance scams, these follow the traditional catfishing-to-catphishing pipeline, but they emphasize a particularly common element of online dating scams: they often involve a sob story to help motivate victims to reach into their pockets. Not Catfish, But Still Fishy Not all romance scams revolve around catfishing. Unfortunately, you'll find that scammers are a pretty creative lot. Wish we saw that same energy when it came to first date ideas from real people on dating apps, but in any case, be wary of these common types of online dating scams: Crypto Scams Because it's so difficult to trace, crypto can be a big red flag when it comes to online scams in general. In this instance, the fake bae gains your trust, then convinces you to invest in what they pitch as a surefire crypto deal. The twist is, the crypto app they're so excited about is often a bespoke (and very fake) app they've created to funnel your funds. Of course, sometimes they'll just take your money via a straight-up Zelle or wire transfer. Bogus Dating Sites Similar to creating a phony crypto app to funnel money right into their own bank account, it's not below romance scammers to create entire dating websites just to hustle unsuspecting romantics. These sham sites pump up your confidence by plying you with matches, but beware of sign-up processes that ask a suspicious amount of finance-related questions or want you to divulge things that could be used to commit identity theft, like answers to common security questions ('what was the name of your first pet?'). Otherwise, fraudulent dating sites might take your money by asking you to pay for perks while matching you with nothing but bots. Or they might keep it simple and just infect your device with phishing malware, or take your credit card info. On the latter note, some romance scams simply rely on tricking you into clicking a link to infectious malware, and that link can be delivered anywhere, from Tinder scams to Bumble scams to DM, text, or email scams. Verification Scams This one's a bit different from the other online dating scams covered here. In a verification scam, criminals will pose as official communications channels for popular dating apps (this is also often called spoofing). You might get a message claiming to be from Tinder, for example, asking you to click a link to 'verify your account,' which requires you to input private information, like passwords, social security numbers, or financial data. As you may have guessed, that info isn't going to Tinder, it's going to creepy phishers. Remember, this online dating scam isn't limited to Tinder. Scammers will adopt the guise and branding of whatever's popular at the time, so it could be a Hinge scam, a Bumble scam, a Coffee Meets Bagel scam — you get the idea. Better Safe Than Heartbroken Love really is a battlefield, but you don't have to storm the beaches unarmed. While it's clear that romance scams come in as many varieties as there are phish in the sea, keep an eye out for these red flags to protect your heart: An unwillingness to meet in person or to take video calls. A little too much emphasis on keeping things private. 'Love bombing,' or bombarding you with compliments and affection, or accelerating the relationship at warp speed right from the jump — this is a tactic to gain your trust and confidence, and to exploit your vulnerability. Inconsistencies in your match's story, or consistently evading questions. Photos that look too polished or AI-generated, or that seem stolen (try a reverse Google Image search and see if any hits come up). Fairy tale romances that seem too good to be true. Any and all asks for money or private information from any person (or bot) you've never met in the real world. When those red flags add up, act quickly to block and report the scammer on whatever platform you're on, and contact your bank ASAP if any money has begun changing hands. You can also head to to report scams — or better yet, avoid divulging funds or private info to online strangers in the first place. Frequently Asked Questions If you're still curious about romance scams, you're not alone. Some of the most commonly searched questions for romance scams include: Will a romance scammer talk on the phone? Typically, no. Catfishers will make a variety of excuses to avoid meeting in person, talking on the phone, or video chatting, often kicking the can down the road indefinitely. In the rare circumstance in which they do give you a call, try running their digits through a reverse phone lookup to see if they really are who they claim to be. If they don't ask for private information like your bank account or credit card numbers, passwords, or other personally identifying info, they might ask for money directly. Asking for crypto investments, wire transfers, or peer-to-peer payments are also massive romance scam red flags. What are common romance scammer phrases? Romance scammers will say anything to get you to trust them — and, in some cases, fall in love with them — as quickly as possible. Some romance scammer favorites include, 'I feel like I've known you forever,' 'you're the only one who understands me,' 'I can't wait to start a life with you,' and 'I've never felt this way about anyone else.' Basically, it's a love-bombing vibe. All's fair in love and war, but romance scammers throw the concept of 'fair' right out the window. Level the playing field. This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Solve the daily Crossword
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Globe and Mail
Alberta serial romance scammer fights court ruling keeping him in prison indefinitely
A fraudster Romeo who bilked five Alberta women of thousands of dollars by faking a lavish lifestyle, brain cancer, seizures and fathering a child with at least one of them, is appealing his dangerous offender designation. Jeffrey Kent's lawyer says he has filed a notice of appeal challenging the ruling and his client's indeterminate sentencing by an Edmonton judge last month. 'The decision raises significant legal concerns with national implications,' Jeinis Patel said in a statement this week. Canada's dangerous offender law is for a narrow class of violent offenders who are an ongoing threat to public safety, Patel said. 'The appeal will argue that Mr. Kent does not fall within that category.' Justice Melanie Hayes-Richards said in her June 27 decision that dangerous offender status is the only way to adequately protect the public from Kent. 'He is a predator who targeted vulnerable single women, some of whom were recently separated, and some of whom had young children,' the judge wrote. 'Using lie upon lie, he inserted himself into his victims' lives, promising a bright and secure future. 'Instead, he wreaked havoc.' Kent's romance scams started in April 2016, said the judge, and over the next 1 1/2 years he developed romantic relationships with the victims he met online. He had recently finished a five-year sentence for convictions that included fraud against several other intimate partners. Those offences dated back to the 1990s. Hayes-Richards said the latest scams were elaborate. Kent used fake names and identities — he was a lawyer, a doctor or a businessman with multiple properties. He toured luxury locations with the women and realtors. He took them window shopping for wedding rings. He manipulated them in investing in real estate opportunities. He used their credit cards for expenses. He ruined their relationships with their families and children, and had a baby with one. He defrauded some of a few thousand dollars, and left one woman with a $300,000 debt. He used their money to support his lavish lifestyle and gambling addiction. 'When his excuses stopped working, he told some of the women that he had brain cancer or a seizure disorder to further manipulate the victims out of their money,' Hayes-Richards said. In 2022, Kent pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud. About a year later, Crown prosecutors asked for him to be declared a dangerous offender, and a hearing was held in April. Hayes-Richards said in her decision that the Criminal Code allows an offender to be labelled a dangerous offender if the crime causes a 'serious personal injury' and the offender threatens the 'life, safety, or physical or mental well-being' of his victims. She rejected the defence argument that the damage caused was economical and not a serious personal injury offence, adding the victims still struggle with debilitating depression, shame, humiliation and thoughts of suicide. A psychologist also told Kent's hearing it would be difficult to treat him. 'It will take decades, not years, to change his behaviour, if even possible,' the judge said. 'Left untreated, Mr. Kent is likely to engage in the same behaviour again, which is likely to cause severe psychological damage to any person who becomes a target.' Patel said in his latest statement that Kent's future risk was overstated by the psychologist and the man has expressed remorse. 'For greater clarity, Mr. Kent nor I take the position that the complainants in his matters did not experience significant harm,' Patel said. He added the judge's designation of non-violent, fraudulent conduct as serious personal injury offence is unprecedented. 'Indeterminate detention is the most severe sanction available under Canadian law and must be reserved for the most exceptional and demonstrably violent cases,' Patel said. 'We anticipate that several of the legal issues raised may ultimately require clarification at the appellate level.' Lawyer Vincent Larochelle, who has also co-authored a book called 'Dangerous Offender Law', says he, too, was surprised by the judge's designation that since the 1950s has been parsimoniously used for violent offenders and sexual predators. 'The obvious example is someone who keeps escalating in their behaviour and it's getting worse and then someone tells you, 'Well, look, this person is not treatable,'' said the Whitehorse-based expert. He said the Supreme Court of Canada or the Alberta Court of Appeal will be interested in Kent's case. 'It's clear that this type of decision does broaden the scope of what type of behaviour can trigger a dangerous offender,' he said. 'When you put someone in jail and indeterminately, you toss away that key. It's a very dangerous thing to do.'
ABC News
11-07-2025
- ABC News
ACCC plans crackdown on romance scams
A taskforce has been put together to stop romance scams involving criminal groups who seek to groom Australians through online relationships and steal their money.
CTV News
03-07-2025
- CTV News
‘He wreaked havoc': Serial romance fraudster labelled dangerous offender
Jeffery Paul Kent, seen in a screen grab from the TV show Scammed, was given an indeterminate sentence and deemed a dangerous offender after a string of romance scams going back nearly a decade. An Edmonton man has been labelled a dangerous offender – a designation given to Canada's most violent criminals and sexual offenders – after a string of romance frauds dating back nearly a decade. Jeffrey Paul Kent was given an indeterminate sentence on June 27 by Court of King's Bench Justice Melanie Hayes-Richards, who said it was the only way to prevent the 55-year-old from acting again. 'Kent is a serial fraudster. He targets vulnerable women, convincing them he is in love with them,' wrote Hayes-Richards in her decision. 'He then manipulates them with lies and false promises to gain access to their finances and other assets. 'He has destroyed the lives of his victims, leaving them financially and emotionally destitute.' In 2022, Kent pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud involving five women who he scammed over $175,000 out of between 2016 and 2017. Hayes-Richards said every one of his victims suffered long-lasting, and in some cases, permanent psychological damage. 'He is a predator who targeted vulnerable single women,' said the decision. 'Using lie upon lie, he inserted himself into his victims' lives, promising a bright and secure future. Instead, he wreaked havoc.' Kent was convicted for other frauds and thefts under similar circumstances dating back to 1990. While going through various psychological evaluations over the years, he was determined to have a significant psychiatric disorder and a gambling addiction. Although he participated in various treatments and programs while incarcerated, he has shown no remorse for his crimes, according to the decision. Romance, deception, gaslighting All five victims met Kent through an online dating app where he used fake names and personas. Some of the women he dated at the same time. Kent would mirror the victims' experiences by creating fake stories where he shared similar experiences. He would often move the relationships along quickly, sometimes moving in with a woman within two to four weeks. The decision said he used 'love-bombing' tactics to convince the women he was deeply in love and committed to them. After imposing himself into their lives, he would ask the women for money related to a business opportunity, falsely promising a quick profit or repayment. When he never paid the women back and ran out of excuses, he would tell them he had brain cancer or a seizure disorder to swindle more money out of his victims. He mostly spent their money gambling or on personal purchases, according to the decision. Kent defrauded one woman of $117,750 by convincing her to invest in a fake hotel reservation business. Another woman lost $21,403 after being coerced into investing in a phony real estate venture. One woman had a child with Kent after being on-and-off with him several times. She became so distressed that she stopped eating and was underweight during her pregnancy. The child was born prematurely and spent 26 days in the NICU. The woman had to return to work just a month after her child was discharged from hospital so she could pay her bills. Not only were the women's finances ruined, their relationships with friends, family and intimate partners were severely impacted by Kent's actions. All of the women experienced severe psychological damage from the gaslighting and manipulation they incurred, said the decision. One victim had suicidal thoughts while others have no interest in dating anymore. Scamming women for two decades Prior to the recent decision, Kent scammed nine other women in his romance schemes. Between 2005 and 2007, Kent defrauded a woman who he had a romantic relationship with of $150,000 by convincing her to invest in a fake hotel reservation business. He defrauded another woman and her family of over an estimated $500,000 while they were in a relationship between 2006 and 2008. Kent and the woman got married in 2007 and had a child. While she was pregnant, the woman found out about the fraudulent activity Kent had been orchestrating. In a victim impact statement, the woman described Kent as a 'monster' and said she dreaded having his child. In 2009, another woman was defrauded of $150,000 and was left with more than $300,000 in debt. During their relationship, he went by Dr. Keenan O'Malley and spoke with an Irish accent. The woman, who worked as a recreational therapist and had two children, was finding it hard to juggle full-time work while raising her children. Kent convinced the woman to invest in another fake hotel reservation business and to list her home for something more affordable. He took $110,000 out of the $200,000 profit from the home to 'piggyback' on his investments. After giving up possession of her house, the woman attempted suicide, the decision read. Following the offence, the woman had no money, job, home or vehicle and was unable to provide basic necessities for her children. As a result, she felt she had to give up custody of her children to their father. After getting back on her feet, her ex-husband refused to allow her access to her children. Today, both children are on medication and anxiety and neither have finished high school. 'Master manipulator' Justice Hayes-Richard said that while Kent has appeared to be committed to treatment while in custody and the community, much of his professed and believed progress was a deception to those trying to help him. 'Kent is an accomplished liar and master manipulator,' said Hayes-Richard in her decision. 'He manipulated each victim into giving him their money, which he used to support his lavish lifestyle and gambling addiction,' said the decision. 'Once his deception was discovered by one victim, he simply moved on to the next, leaving behind a wake of life-altering consequences for each victim.' While Kent has been given an indeterminate sentence, it does not mean that he will never be released from prison. Kent could be released on parole when the Parole Board of Canada is satisfied that parole conditions will be sufficient to control him in the community. Kent is eligible for parole review in seven years from the day he was taken into custody which was on Sept. 24, 2018, making his review date Sept. 24, 2025. If he is not paroled after his September review, the parole board is required to review his case every two years.
