Scams met olieplatforms in 2023: noodzaak om te weten en te beschermen - RomanceScams.org (2023)

FAQs

What are the 3 most common types of scams? ›

Contact you unexpectedly — One of the easiest ways to spot a scammer is if they contact you first. If you receive any message, phone call, or email from someone you don't know, verify they are who they say by contacting their agency or business directly.

Dating and romance scams often take place through online dating websites, but scammers may also use social media or email to make contact. They have even been known to telephone their victims as a first introduction. These scams are also known as 'catfishing'.

Older people are often assumed to be the main targets of financial fraudsters, but younger generations may actually be more at risk to fall victim to scams, research suggests.

Con artists are present on most dating and social media sites. The scammer's intention is to establish a relationship as quickly as possible, endear himself to the victim, and gain trust. Scammers may propose marriage and make plans to meet in person, but that will never happen. Eventually, they will ask for money.

Facebook was mentioned the most as a Google Search suggestion for the topic of fake profiles; Tinder was the second most mentioned platform. Comparing only dating platforms, Tinder had the highest number of mentions—12—while Badoo came in second place with just 4 mentions.

Identity thieves could potentially gather information on you from images that you share online. A photo posted on your birthday, for example, would provide them with your date of birth, whereas a photo of a new house could potentially give them details of where you live.

How can you tell if someone is real on a dating site? ›

Your phone number is an easy access point for scammers and identity thieves. Once scammers know your number, they can target you with phishing texts and calls, or trick you into downloading malware and giving up personal information.

Victims can be both men and women. Many times, the criminal targets older people and those who may be struggling in a relationship and/or are emotionally vulnerable. Though most criminals aim for vulnerable targets, affluent and well-educated individuals have also fallen victim to these type of scams.

Younger adults were over four times more likely than older adults to report a loss on an investment scam. Most of these were bogus cryptocurrency investment opportunities. And this age group reported losing money on job scams at more than five times the rate of older adults.

In 2022, the District of Columbia was the state with the highest rate of consumer fraud and other related problems, with a rate of 1,747 reports per 100,000 of the population. North Dakota had the lowest rate of consumer fraud reports in that year, at 536 reports per 100,000 of the population.

The top 10 apps were led by Facebook with 152 victims, Google Hangouts with 99 victims, Instagram with 80, WhatsApp and Plenty of Fish had 50 each. Match, OurTime, Zoosk, Words With Friends and Tinder round out the top 10.

The Sweetheart Scam is a scheme that can be perpetrated online or in-person. The person perpetrating the scam convinces someone that they are in love, using the emotion to bilk money from the unsuspecting person—oftentimes an isolated older person.

For those who've not experienced this before, this level of romance might seem exciting and special. On top of this, it was found that common traits on scammer profiles include speaking of fake past 'tragedies' such as being widowed, boasting of a military affiliation or calling themselves 'God-fearing'.

Can you go to jail for romance scamming? ›

Being charged for Internet dating fraud or dating site scams can mean facing federal charges or state charges, either of which can carry long prison sentences. It is not uncommon for involvement with an online dating scam to lead to indictment on multiple counts.

Do not respond to texts or emails. If you do, the scammers will escalate their intimidation and attempts to get your money. Never send money or give credit card details, online account details or personal information to anyone you don't know or trust and never by email or over the phone.

With the prevalence of dating apps and websites, it's no surprise that fake profiles exist. The important thing to remember is to be vigilant and do your research before meeting anyone in person. If you suspect that someone you're talking to is a fake, report them to the site or app so that they can be removed.

If you're lucky enough to hit it off with someone you meet on a dating app, they'll probably ask for your phone number. It's a sign that the person you matched with is interested and wants to get to know you by calling or even video chatting. Speaking of which, here are a few ways to look your best in video meetings.

If someone steals your phone number, they become you — for all intents and purposes. With your phone number, a hacker can start hijacking your accounts one by one by having a password reset sent to your phone. They can trick automated systems — like your bank — into thinking they're you when you call customer service.

Screenshots are used by Cash App scammers to trick users into thinking that they've sent you money or a fake Cash App receipt.

It may seem harmless at first, but so much information can be revealed by a photo once it is uploaded on the Internet to photo sharing websites, social media apps and blogs. To those not aware, the format used to record image information is called the Exchangeable Image File Format or EXIF.

Fake profiles typically sound robotic, and sometimes there is even excessive use of inappropriate emojis. This is especially true for non-English speaking scammers. It is easy to identify a real person from a chatbot. Automated messages are not programmed to answer more complex questions.

How can you tell if an online girlfriend is real? ›

Be on the lookout for these red flags: Being asked to pay money in order to receive a prize or get a job. Pressure to act immediately. Use of scare tactics, e.g. telling you a loved one is in danger, that your computer has been hacked or threatening arrest if you don't act now.

Directly replying to a spam text message lets a spammer know that your number is genuine. What happens next They can sell your phone number to other spammers who might bombard you with false promises of free gifts and product offers. Instead, it's best to block and report the number.

What they want are account numbers, passwords, Social Security numbers, and other confidential information that they can use to loot your checking account or run up bills on your credit cards. Identity thieves can take out loans or obtain credit cards and even driver's licenses in your name.

Fraud detection generally involves data analysis-based techniques. These techniques are broadly categorized as statistical data analysis techniques and artificial intelligence or AI-based techniques.

What to do if you get a spam text. Your best step is to block the text sender—don't click any links! —and report the spam. Then, delete the text from your phone.

What happens if you reply stop to a spam text? ›

Legitimate businesses are required by law to stop texting you if you opt out, usually by texting “stop.” But scammers don't care. Replying “stop” just lets them know a real person is on the other end of their outreach. Avoid giving your digits.

Contact your bank immediately to let them know what's happened and ask if you can get a refund. Most banks should reimburse you if you've transferred money to someone because of a scam.

IP tracing

An IP address can be used to trace the location of the scammer if the IP address is not hidden using a VPN or other means. There are a variety of ways to obtain someone's IP address.