The first Sunday in January is known as "Dating Sunday," the world's busiest day for online dating. But, unfortunately, it's also a big day for romance scammers. Con-artists will reach out to singles via apps, sites or even text messages, strike up a conversation with them, then encourage them to invest in cryptocurrency through fake sites and accounts. But, once they get their money, they disappear.
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According to the Federal Trade Commission, scammers bilked more than $135 million from victims in 2021 alone. The best way to avoid becoming a target is using trusted sites and matchmaking companies. Do your research before you sign up or give anyone your information, said Vanessa Sescila, a matchmaker at It's Just Lunch Chicago.
"If you meet somebody online, I think it's important that you get their first and last name," Sescila said. "Do a Google search before you go meet them."
If you have your date's real and full name, you can find out a lot about them online. Are they married? Do they have kids? Are they really who they say they are? You can also do a reverse image Google search to see if their photo is fake or real.
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If and when you do meet a potential date, always meet in a public place. Don't go to someone's home until you really know them.
And, lastly, never send money to someone you haven't met in person or don't truly know. It's a big red flag if someone is asking you for money or to invest in something after just meeting you on a dating site.