Romance Scams Increase by Approximately 333 Percent in Four Years

In 2015, adults lost $33 million to romance scams. Losses are in for 2018. It shows that the total losses from romance scams reached $143 million in 2018. That’s about a 333 percent increase in just four years. It almost doubled the $88 million in losses from 2017.

Caregiver in Amagansett NY: Romance Scams

Despite media warnings, people are still falling for romance scams.
The age group of 40 to 69 are the ones who reported the scams the most, but the highest losses were from the 70 or older group. Feds busted a ring of 80 scammers who were raking in cash in romance scams, but that’s just one small bust. Your parents need to be proactive about falling for these scams.

How Does a Romance Scam Work?

Romance scammers target victims on social media sites and online dating apps. Most people report the scam started on Facebook. The scammer creates an alluring profile by stealing photos of others they spot online and use that profile to contact single people.

Seniors are one of the biggest targets as dating can be harder for older adults who are now widowed or divorced. When they get a message from an attractive stranger, it’s tempting to see where it will go. Over time, the scammer builds a relationship with the victim. Eventually, the conversation turns to how the person needs money for an emergency or so that they can meet face to face.

Victims send money expecting to soon meet this person they’ve fallen in love with. Once the scammer has the money, the profile may vanish or another request for money arrives for some other emergency. The median loss for a romance scam was $2,600 in 2018. That can be a lot of money for an aging adult who is on a fixed income.

How Can Your Parents Decide If They’re Being Scammed?

Locking down a social media profile is important. Your parent should only allow friends to view posts and pictures. Blocking messages from strangers is important.

On a dating app, your parent should approach an interested party carefully. Once there’s a name and location, research it online. See what comes up. If there’s a photo, do a reverse-image search of that photo to see if there are hits. Make sure the name listed with the photos matches the name the person gave your parents.

If a call is made, look up that phone number online. See if there is information on who the phone number is registered to. If it appears the person is a scammer, file a complaint with the FTC, take screenshots of conversations, and go to the local police. Report that profile to the social media site, too.

If your parent is lonely, elder care aides offer companionship services. Call an elder care agency to get more information and prices.

If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring a Caregiver in Amagansett, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.

Sources:
FTC.gov