Scots have been warned to be aware of the signs of romance and companionship fraud in the run up to Valentine’s Day.
Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national consumer advice service consumeradvice.scot, has launched a new campaign that aims to understand the tactics used by scammers to exploit situations of loneliness or isolation of their targets.
The Romance and Companionship Scams campaign (ROMCOM) will look at bank transfer fraud, ‘love bombing’, blackmail, and other manipulation techniques that people closer to the scams may misunderstand or misinterpret as displays of affection.
It will also focus on non-romantic scams perpetrated by family members and fraudsters posing as them through apps like WhatsApp.
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Advice Direct Scotland said romance and companionship scams, which can occur on dating sites and social media, rely on psychological “buy-in” and play on the emotions of the person being tricked.
Scottish Government Public Finance Minister Tom Arthur said anyone who becomes aware of suspicious activity should report it to police to help stop the perpetrator and potentially protect others.
Mr Arthur, MP for Renfrewshire South, said: “I welcome the work Advice Direct Scotland is carrying out to highlight the risks associated with romance and companionship scams. By following advice from Scotland’s consumer advice service, people can better spot signs of fraud and avoid being taken advantage of.
“Anybody who becomes aware of any suspicious activity should contact Advice Direct Scotland through the national consumer advice service at www.consumeradvice.scot and report it to the police as these type of criminals may be targeting more than one person and your report could help protect others.”
The charity has warned people to avoid revealing too many personal details early into a conversation online and stressed that they should never give out their bank details.
It has also issued advice on identifying potential scams, including verifying a person’s profile picture via video chat, and being aware of ‘love bombing’ techniques where clichés and over-the-top flattery are used to gain another person’s trust to extort money.
Other scammers will seek to manipulate people through emotional means, and some may resort to the use of blackmail through pictures or videos they have obtained to extort money or silence the other party.
Advice Direct Scotland says many of those being conned are less likely to approach friends, family members, police or enforcement agencies when they realise they have been scammed, normally due to a misplaced sense fear or embarrassment.
The targets of these crimes tend to be those that the scammers view more vulnerable, for example, the elderly, disabled and those recently divorced or bereaved.
The advice follows the release of the new Netflix crime documentary The Tinder Swindler, which tells the story of conman Simon Leviev, who used the dating app to scam women out of hundreds of thousands of pounds after posing as the son of a diamond billionaire.
Tips to stay safe include:
Avoid revealing too many personal details too early into the conversation and never share bank details.
If someone asks for money from you, this should ring warning bells. Many of these scammers depend on their target supplying enough information for them to be able to help themselves.
Check profile pictures and verify. If someone is unwilling to have a conversation on the telephone, by FaceTime, Skype or video call, chances are they aren’t who they say they are. Many dating sites ‘verify’ user profiles to provide added peace of mind.
Check in on relatives. If someone seems withdrawn and secretive, especially in relation to money and their latest love interest, make sure they are OK. Let them know you are there for them if they need you.
Be aware of ‘love bombing’. Many scammers shower affection very early and use this as a tool to extort money and gain trust. Be wary of sweeping statements and clichés.
And remember - if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
Colin Mathieson, spokesperson for Advice Direct Scotland, added: “If you believe you have been the target of a romance scam, you should contact your bank in the first instance if financial details have been shared, or money has been transferred. You should also contact the police to report the situation.
“If you would like more advice on scams or would like to report a scam you have identified, you can contact consumeradvice.scot on 0808 164 6000.”
For more information please visit www.consumeradvice.scot/romcomscams
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