Romance scams, also known as catfishing, involve criminals creating fake online identities (catfishing) to build romantic relationships, gain trust, and then manipulate victims for money or personal information, often using attractive fake photos and elaborate stories to justify needing funds for emergencies or travel. Key red flags include refusing video calls, never meeting in person, quickly professing love, having sparse social media, and eventually asking for money through urgent, emotional pleas.
How it works
- Fake Identity: Scammers use stolen photos and made-up backstories (often claiming military, construction, or international work) to appear as a desirable partner.
- Rapid Connection: They build trust quickly with intense flattery, affection, and promises of a future together (love bombing).
- Emotional Manipulation: They create a strong emotional bond, making victims feel special and eager to help.
- The Ask: Once trust is established, they invent crises (medical, travel, legal) to ask for money, gift cards, or personal info.
Red flags to watch for
- Refusal to meet/video chat: Excuses like broken cameras or being on a secret mission are common.
- Overly perfect or inconsistent profiles: Few friends, limited activity, or conflicting details.
- Quick declarations of love: Intense feelings expressed very early on.
- Financial requests: Asking for money, gift cards, or bank details.
- Urgency and secrecy: Pressuring you to act fast or keep the relationship quiet.
How to protect yourself
- Be skeptical: Verify identities; do a reverse image search on their photos.
- Meet in person: Insist on video calls and real-life meetings before any commitment.
- Guard personal info: Be cautious about sharing sensitive details.
- Trust your gut: If it feels too good to be true, it probably is.
- Report it: Report suspicious profiles and activity to the platform and authorities like Netsafe in NZ or the FBI in the US.