Ahead of Valentine’s Day, gardaí have issued a warning to the public to be aware of ‘romance fraud’ stemming from dating websites and social media.
Love isn’t in the air for fraudsters who set out to woo victims and convince them to send them money.
Gardaí have revealed that 75 cases of Romance Fraud were reported in 2019, costing male and female victims over €1,000,000 in losses.
In one case an Irish victim developed a relationship with a male on a dating website. He gained her trust and she sent him €62,000 over a period of time. In another case, a victim linked up with a female in an on-line chat room and ended up sending her €50,000.
This particular fraud involves people making connections online, where the fraudster provides the victims with well-prepared stories designed to deceive.
The victims develop online relationships with the fraudsters, who use fake identities, photographs and life stories. Inevitably, the fraudster will ask their victim for money.
The fraudster will continue to ask for money until the victim has no more money to give or realise they are being conned.
“This crime often leaves vulnerable people with a feeling of hurt and mistrust in addition to their financial loss,” said gardaí.
The warning signs include:
- The fraudster asking the victim to communicate by instant messaging, text or phone calls rather than messaging through the dating website
- The fraudster will start asking for money for various reasons, starting with low amounts:
– to pay for travel to meet the victim
– to pay moving expenses (ship furniture and pay customs)
– to pay medical expenses for a sick child or relative
– to invest in a guaranteed business opportunity
– to pay a tax bill or other spurious reason - No meetings in person take place. The fraudster will present reasons for not meeting, or may arrange to meet and then cancel
- The fraudster will avoid personal questions, but will ask plenty
- They will ask for money to be transferred to bank accounts abroad or via money transfer agencies to locations outside of Ireland
- Phone calls from Irish numbers or lodgements to Irish bank accounts should not be considered as evidence that the person is genuine
Detective Chief Superintendent Pat Lordan of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau advises the public as follows:
- STOP AND THINK! ASK YOURSELF, IS THIS PERSON REAL? – If you are asked for money by a person with whom you are in an on-line relationship
- NEVER share personal or banking details with unknown persons online.
- NEVER receive money from, or send money to persons unknown.
- THINK twice before using a webcam (intimate images can be used for blackmail).
- TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS – if it sounds like it is too good to be true, it is probably not true.
- IF IN DOUBT, talk to a family member or a friend.
- If you have been the victim of this type of crime, please report it in confidence to your local Garda station.
