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Don’t let a Scammer Play With Your Heart

Meeting someone through social media, a dating app or online chatroom is extremely common these days – and many people hit it off! Just be aware that scammers take advantage of people looking for love by posing as someone else, often using a stolen photo.What to watch out for:
  • They ask to chat off the dating site, and instead prefer email, text or phone.
  • They can’t meet you in person, saying they’re traveling or living outside the country because of a job or military assignment.
  • They ask for money to buy a ticket to come see you, cover medical bills or keep them (or a family member) out of trouble. Another red flag: They want that money in the form of a gift card, wire or cryptocurrency.
Take action steps:
  • Stop talking to them immediately if you have suspicions of a scam.
  • If they have a profile picture, do a reverse image search. If other profiles or names pop up, or details aren’t aligning, it’s likely a scam.
  • Above all else, remember to never send money to someone you haven’t met in person.
The internet can be a great place to form connections, as long as you’re keeping your heart (and money) protected from romance scammers.If you think you’ve been a victim of a romance scam, help prevent this financially and emotionally painful fraud from happening to others by reporting it to the FTC. Also, reach out to your financial institution right away. Summit members, call us at 800-236-5560 so we can help you navigate this difficult situation.

Want More Fraud-Fighting Tips?

Keep exploring more ways to  Sources:
FTC.gov – Faking it — scammers’ tricks to steal your heart and money
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