What happens when the object of your affections breaks your heart and your bank account?
In the new Netflix documentaryThe Tinder Swindler, Simon Leviev uses dating apps to swindle his matches out of millions of dollars. It’s a terrifying thought.
But the women in the documentary aren’t the only ones to fall victim to a romance scam. An increasing amount of people have, unfortunately, been subjected to this crime over the past couple of years as research has found that romance fraud reports have increased by 40 per cent during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is due to a combination of factors, but a huge one is the amount of isolation and loneliness that many of us have faced during this time. This extra vulnerability has meant that many people have been more susceptible to the perceived affections of those they haven’t known for long, resulting in financial and emotional distress during an already tumultuous time.
While it should not fall to potential victims to find all the answers, it’s reasonable to want to know what can be done to arm yourself against these kinds of crimes.
Starling Bank’s financial crime specialist Sarah Lenette has offered up five things to think about and look out for when it comes to romance scams. Here’s what you need to know.
Can you find this person on other social media platforms, and if so are they real?
“Checking someone is real online can help you understand whether to trust them,” Lenette says. But, it’s not enough to know that…
