Got an email saying your webcam was hacked? Don’t worry — it’s just another sextortion scam. I’ll tell you why it’s all fake and how to stay safe.
Signs your new boyfriend or girlfriend is not who they say they are
Scammers are waiting around every corner, and special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Black Friday are usually when they kick their activities into high gear. Unfortunately, this is the perfect time of year for romance scams.
Read on to see how these scams work and what you can do about them.
Romance scams on the rise
Romance scams are increasingly popular, especially when love is in the air around Valentine’s Day. The goal is to steal your money or personal details, but it can take a while to build up to that point.
A common place to search for victims is on dating apps. The scam works by criminals showing interest in you, but after gaining your trust, they ask for money or other favors.
And it’s more common than you think. According to the FTC, nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam last year, with over $1.3 billion in losses. That’s a staggering amount of money, which drives criminals to commit more fraud.
These scammers do a lot of research before targeting you and pay close attention to the information you share on dating sites. That’s how they know what you like and can present themselves as a perfect match.
If your profile says you’re into hiking and craft beer, they also claim to be into those things. They will even say your favorite musicians and movies are their favorites. It’s a great way to build trust by making it seem like you’re very similar.
It seems like a match made in heaven, but there is one problem: they’re never able to meet face-to-face.
“Their excuse is often baked right into their fake identity. Claiming to be on a faraway military base is the most popular excuse, but offshore oil rig worker is another common (and fake) occupation. In short, there’s no end to the lies romance scammers will tell to get your money,” the FTC explains.
Some romance scams can turn into sextortion scams quickly. That’s when someone asks to share explicit photos. If you do, they could threaten to share your pics with people on your social media contact list. The only way to stop them is to pay them off. Yikes! Tap or click here for more details on sextortion scams.
How to spot romance scammers
Warning: FBI says sextortion scammers are using this scary new tactic
Of all the scams floating around on the web, sextortion scams are some of the scariest to deal with. When a hacker claims to have intimate photos of you and threatens to post them online, it feels like a total violation of your rights. Thankfully, for the most part, these scams are nothing but bluster.
63,000 Instagram accounts
Removed for sextortion scams. Does that number seem a little low to you? It does to me, considering the billions of people on FB and IG. Meta says it’s cracking down on Nigerian scam rings like the Yahoo Boys. It’s a drop in the bucket.
An awful new twist on sextortion scams - what you need to know
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Sextortion is back with a vengeance — here's what to do
Open/download audioAnother day, another scam. But don’t think this one is just the like the others. Here’s how these frightening sextortion scams work and what you can do to prevent yourself from being blackmailed and harassed.
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