Scammers are active on dating sites and on social media. They promise mountains of gold, but are out to extort your savings.
It is the most natural thing in the world to search for a new partner on the Internet. But watch out! Scammers try to grab you and then extort your money. And of course we all think: that won’t happen to me. Until it happens to you. On average, victims of dating fraud lost more than 30,000 euros per person in 2021.
Recognize the scammer
When should the alarm bells go off? The more you recognize of the following characteristics, the more likely you are dealing with a scammer, according to the Fraud Help Desk.
- Your dating partner is a foreigner/foreigner, often an American or Englishman, but other nationalities are also present;
- Your male dating partner is often military or an entrepreneur who is, for example, in the oil industry;
- Due to their position, your dating partner is often located in Africa, Turkey or the Middle East, although Asia and the Gulf of Mexico are also well-known examples;
- Your dating partner acts like the knight in shining armor or your princess of dreams;
- Your dating partner promises to come to you but encounters problems;
- He or she cannot access his or her money due to circumstances;
- Your dating partner first has to solve (financial) problems in that distant country. For example, he or she ends up in hospital just before his or her departure to the Netherlands and has to pay the bill, but is unable to do so due to circumstances;
- Your dating partner has (view of) a large sum of money, diamonds or gold but needs your help to unlock it;
- Your dating partner asks if he can send his valuables to you due to circumstances. You must then make a payment for the shipment or receipt.
Victim Support adds:
- A scammer never wants to communicate live via Facetime or Skype, but always via WhatsApp and email;
- A scammer wants to build a relationship very quickly;
- You receive many intimate messages from your date at different times;
- It seems like you like exactly the same things (hobbies, music, etc);
- A scammer doesn’t want you to tell others about the relationship.
What should you NOT do?
Of course you should be able to date without any worries. But don’t be too naive. Never blindly accept a friend request from a stranger, for example on Facebook. Dating fraudsters are not only active on dating sites, but also search for possible victims via social media. On social media, scammers can see exactly what your life is like and take advantage of it to take advantage of you. Never transfer money to someone you have not yet met in person.
What SHOULD you do?
If you have contact with a nice online date: Talk to those around you about it. People around you will hear the alarm bells ringing faster than you. No matter how annoying you may find that. Do you also doubt yourself? Then call the Fraud Helpdesk. The staff can help you assess the situation. Together with you, they can see which steps may be necessary.
What if it went wrong?
File a report with the police and inform the dating site. Stop transferring money. Block your phone number and social media accounts. Victim Support Netherlands recently has a online community created where victims can share their experiences with each other. Did you pay money to your new love who was a scammer? In general, victims do not get their money back. This is because the perpetrator is difficult to find and is probably abroad.
My sister is under the spell of a (suspected) scammer
On the website of the Faudehelpdesk Learn how to convince a family member or acquaintance if they don’t want to face the truth of their loved one.
