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Navigating Online Dating and Preventing Romance Scams
If you are out there looking for love, there may be scammers looking to take your money and personal information. While you want to be open to forming a relationship with the person on the other side of the screen, you should still keep an eye out for red flags. Here are some signs your potential match will exhibit if they are a scammer.
Navigating Online Dating and Preventing Romance Scams
As more and more relationships start online, so do fake ones. Scammers are taking advantage of individuals’ loneliness to access their information and funds.
Romance scams have been increasing steadily over the last few years. In 2020, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received 1,546 reports of romance scams with $28,989,750 in losses. The following year saw an over 20% increase in romance scam reports.
What is a Romance Scam?
A romance scam involves a scammer building a connection with you to gain your trust. They will say anything and everything to get you to fall for their scam. Once they have that connection and your trust, they will ask for your help. They may claim to have a sick family member or a desperate situation where they need your help. They may even say they have an investment opportunity that will benefit the two of you.

Scammers may randomly stumble across you on a dating site, or they may have been researching you online through different social media platforms.
Catfishing is a common tactic used by romance scammers where they pretend to be someone else by using fake photos or information to be more appealing.
Warning Signs of an Online Romance Scam
If you are out there looking for love, there may be scammers looking to take your money and personal information. While you want to be open to forming a relationship with the person on the other side of the screen, you should still keep an eye out for red flags. Here are some signs your potential match will exhibit if they are a scammer.
Scammers may randomly stumble across you on a dating site, or they may have been researching you online through different social media platforms.
Catfishing is a common tactic used by romance scammers where they pretend to be someone else by using fake photos or information to be more appealing.
Warning Signs of an Online Romance Scam
If you are out there looking for love, there may be scammers looking to take your money and personal information. While you want to be open to forming a relationship with the person on the other side of the screen, you should still keep an eye out for red flags. Here are some signs your potential match will exhibit if they are a scammer.

  
They are quick to express their feelings or even call it “love”



  
They ask you for money


How To Avoid Losing Money to a Romance Scammer
Now that you know what to look for, you have the first tool in your toolbox to protect yourself from romance scammers. Once something about them has set off a red flag in your mind, there are steps you can take to confirm your suspicions that a scammer is talking to you.

  
Look out for red flags, and don’t let your guard down



  
Never send money or give out your financial information


How To Report a Romance Scam
If you or someone you know has become a victim of a romance scam, you should report it immediately. While it can be an upsetting and embarrassing situation, it is important to report the scammer to prevent someone else from falling victim.
First, you should stop all communications. If you met and are communicating with the scammer through a website, app or social media site, report them to the administrators or support team. Most platforms take reports of scams very seriously. When reporting a user to a website or app, you should provide their profile name and any other important identifying details.
If you have lost money or personal information to a scammer, call your local police to file a report. You should also contact your bank and place a stop payment on any cheques or money transfers. It is also recommended that you report scams and cybercrimes to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre (CAFC). It gives you the best chance of recovering your funds, but it is not always guaranteed.
So while you are online looking for a connection, it is important to be on the lookout for potential romance scams. Just remember to look out for red flags, such as providing inconsistent information and asking for money. You should also never second guess reporting the incident if you believe you are the victim of a romance scam.