April 1, 2024

TEXAS — Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and it’s the most romantic time of the year, but those euphoric feelings can turn to dread and sorrow if you’re not careful.

Romance scams, unfortunately, are big business in the U.S. In fact, according to online security website Comparitech, it’s estimated Americans will lose more than $800 million to such scams in 2022.

The website additionally identifies Texas as one of the worst states for the crime, with 8,111 romance scams costing people $65.9 million in 2021 alone.

So what is a romance scam? According to the FBI, it occurs when “a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim.”

Basically, it’s a con, and the traps are set on dating sites and social media. The scammers will attempt to establish a relationship as quickly as possible and may even make plans to meet in person or propose marriage. That will never happen, however. The scammer will ask for money.

The FBI further says the scammers will often identify themselves as being in the building and construction industry and claim to frequently work outside of the U.S., which gives them a good excuse for putting off an in-person meeting.

If someone claims to need your bank account information in order to make a deposit, it will almost certainly involve theft and fraud.

So what can you do? The FBI…

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