The internet
provides anyone with the opportunity to establish both business and
personal relationships. Scam artists often exploit this opportunity
by preying on individuals who frequent internet chat rooms, online
dating services, social networking sites, and other online
locations.
They establish a
relationship with a potential victim by requesting emotional support
for some personal event. By doing this, the scammer slowly
cultivates a relationship that they hope will translate into
significant goodwill and financial gain.
The
relationship can continue for weeks or even months. After a
successful online courtship, the scammer may ask the victim to
assist them financially in order to remedy some traumatic situation.
The reasons
include:
The individual
or a family member needs medical attention
The individual
is a victim of a violent crime and they’ve been robbed of their
belongings
The
individual would like to visit but needs funding for airline
tickets, visas, or excessive customs costs.
Whatever the
situation, the scammer asks the victim for money or to sends them
traveler’s checks, money orders, or some other item to negotiate.
They instruct the victim to wire the funds to a third party such as
a doctor, or hotel manager. It’s likely that any proposed
transaction will involve counterfeit or altered items.
Here are some tips
to avoid relationship scams:
Be cautious
when meeting people on the internet. Remember, they can pretend
to be someone they aren’t
Do not
negotiate items on behalf of someone else
Do
not send money by money transfer to someone you do not know
