Gardai are advising people to beware of romance scams in the lead up to Valentine’s Day.
And if you’re just starting to look for the perfect date online, it might be best to give that air a wee sniff to make sure it’s all legit. Gardai are saying the extent of romance scams is not fully known because many of the victims are too embarrassed to report the fraud.
Detective Inspector Catharina Gunne from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau has warned romance fraudsters may try to get their victims to send them money using various excuses. She said: “In the beginning, the amount of money requested will often be small but increases as the scammer becomes more successful in building the ‘relationship’ and tricking the victim.”
