Nobody wants to live out the latter years of their life alone. Whether it stems from losing a spouse or fear of aging alone, many seniors turn to online dating. The internet provides an avenue to find a potential partner, and scammers use this to their advantage. Also known as “sweetheart scams”, cybercriminals exploit this loneliness to lure eager elders into romance scams. Keep reading to learn how these scams unfold and what you can do to protect yourself or your loved ones.
The Rise of International Romance Scams Targeting Seniors
Scams targeting seniors are on the rise as more and more senior citizens rely on the internet and apps to communicate and look for love. Anonymity in the digital world provides the perfect cover for scammers to target these older adults without fear of criminal repercussions. While these scammers can conduct their catfishing from anywhere, the majority of these scams originate from three countries.
- Nigerian Romance Scammers. Everything about Nigerian scams begins with the “Yahoo Boys,” a term used to describe scammers who operate in Nigeria. These scammers are particularly good at creating fake online personas to lure seniors into relationships. They have even been known to post how-to guides on social media.
- Romance Scams Originating from the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic has also become a hotbed of senior romance scams that typically follow a predictable pattern. Scammers create relationships with their targets, even going so far as to promise marriage to their targets. They then create a string of situations such as health crises or legal troubles in which they “need” financial support.
- Filipino Romance Scams Targeting Senior Men. Unlike Nigerian and Dominican Romance Scams, most others originate from the Philippines and target older men from Western countries. Specifically, these scams often target men in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
The success of senior romance scams relies heavily on the emotional vulnerabilities of targets, especially those in desperate situations. Seniors may be especially motivated by the desire to find love. Scammers exploit this vulnerability by weaving emotional tales of romance, often leading to perceived marriages.
Common Senior Romance Scams Tactics
As we’ve covered, senior romance scams typically originate from organized crime groups in specific regions. As such, they often follow similar scripts and employ common tactics. Knowing this, our experts have deduced consistent red flags you can look out for.
- Unsolicited Contact. Be wary of any random messages from unknown users looking for the exact same person as you. Romance scammers often scout their targets to appeal to their interests and lower their guard.
- “Perfect” Profiles. We all would love for a young, wealthy, and attractive individual to faun over us. But you need to view the interaction through a realistic lens. Is it more likely that this person is real or a scammer posing as your perfect match?
- Love Bombing. Senior romance scammers often shower their targets with passionate declarations of love early on. They may use phrases like “soulmates” or explain how “fate” brought you together. While innocent flirting is expected with online dating, this extreme level of courting should raise alarm.
- Unusual Requests. If you were on an in-person blind date, you’d likely be suspicious if your match began asking for financial information. Senior romance scammers often make these very requests behind explanations like medical emergencies or travel expenses.
Real-World Example: Toledo Man Loses $125,000 to Romance Scam
A 79-year-old man from Toledo, Ohio lost the majority of his life savings to a romance scammer going by the name “Lisa Love”. The scam took place over the span of roughly half a year, and the losses surpassed $125,000.
The man received a random text from the scammer hiding behind the fake identity. He was recently divorced and lonely, the perfect storm for a romance scam. The two communicated over texts and even joined multiple video calls that deterred his suspicions.
After establishing a relationship, the scammer claimed to have an aunt who was a financial advisor and suggested a “golden” opportunity. His funds were sent to an account in Vietnam, and “Lisa” was not heard from again. The loss of his finances and supposed love interest left the man contemplating thoughts of self-harm.
The Devastating Consequences of Falling for a Romance Scam
Being targeted in a romance scam can be deeply painful, leaving lasting emotional scars. It can also have serious financial and physical consequences. The impact of such an experience often lingers, and it can take years to fully heal from the trauma. Some of the effects they may face include:
- Feelings of Shame and Guilt.People often feel embarrassed or ashamed after falling for a romance scam. This is especially true if the individual is older and consequently believes they should’ve been wiser. However, these scams can happen to anyone. You should not let shame prevent you from seeking help or sharing your experiences with loved ones.
- Loss of Savings and Retirement Funds.Meeting the scammer’s initial and seemingly innocent inquiry can lead to a flurry of further requests. Some individuals take out loans, remortgage their homes, or borrow from family members to send funds to the scammer. This can lead to years of financial instability and long-term debt.
- Difficulty Establishing Relationships.Romance scams can have detrimental ramifications to an individual’s ability to trust. In some cases, the damage caused by the scam makes it impossible to build meaningful relationships in the future.
2024 Statistics on Senior Romance Scams
The most recent data from the FBI and the FTC indicate that senior individuals are less likely to report scams. Both organizations reveal alarming numbers that indicate a rapid increase in cyber scams targeting seniors.
- Romance scams cause the third-highest losses of any form of senior fraud, accounting for $227 million in annual losses.
- The number of reported senior scams, totaling losses of $100,000 or more, has tripled since 2020.
- Gift cards remain the most commonly reported form of payment, but the highest losses are attributed to bank wires and cryptocurrency exchanges.
Safety Measures for Seniors Looking to Explore Online Dating
When you are in an online relationship with someone you have not met in person, it’s important to stay cautious and watch for potential red flags. Here are some safety measures you should follow:
- Be careful when sharing photos or personal details such as your full name, address, phone number, and any financial information. This information can be used to dupe or scam you.
- Take your time in getting into a relationship. Spend time getting to know the person and watch for any signs of manipulation such as requests for financial support or gifts, reluctance to meet in person, and inconsistencies in what they communicate.
- Be cautious if someone insists on moving your conversation to private messaging apps or other platforms. Romance scammers often insist on taking conversations off dating sites to make tracking more difficult for the authorities.
- If you are going to meet someone in person, make a video call with them first so that you can ensure they are who they claim to be and get a better sense of their intentions.
- Let a trusted friend or family member know your plans before you meet anyone in person, including where you are meeting, the name of the person, and the time.
We also invite you to check out our blog for a list of The Most Common Romance Scammer Phrases.
How to Unmask a Potential Romance Scammer
Senior romance scammers are cunning and calculated. They carefully craft their online alias to skew their real identity and portray themselves as the ideal catch. However, there are ways to crack this façade and reveal the scammer behind the screen.
- Reverse Image Search. One of the easiest ways to sniff out a romance scammer is reverse image searching their profile photos. This allows you to enter an image and see if matching results pop up elsewhere online. If they do, you can deduce that your new connection is hiding their identity behind stolen images.
- Compare Their Profiles. If they’ve contacted you on multiple platforms, compare their profiles for any inconsistent information. A real person’s bio information, writing style, and photos will be realistically consistent across platforms. This continuity is difficult to capture when using a fake or stolen identity.
- Propose a Video Call. Romance scammers will use every tactic under the sun to avoid a face-to-face interaction both virtually and in person. Asking them to join a video call can unravel their scheme. But just like the aforementioned case in Toledo, AI technology has made it possible to convincingly fake a video call. You can learn more about spotting these fakes by reading our article on AI-fueled scams.
- Ask Specific Questions. The early stages of online dating should consist of getting to know your potential partner, anyway. These questions can also help you identify a romance scammer. If they can’t give you consistent answers, it may be a red flag that they aren’t who they claim to be.
Can Law Enforcement or Consumer Protection Agencies Help You Recover from a Senior Romance Scam?
Most romance scammers will only accept payments that are irrevocable. This typically includes payment methods like Bitcoin, bank wires, gift cards, and payment apps to ensure they can keep their ill-earned revenues. Seniors are especially at risk for these scams because they trust the connection they’ve formed with the scammer and want to help the person they think they’re in a relationship with.
This makes recovering funds lost to scammers extremely difficult. You should immediately report the scam to your financial institution, the FTC, and the FBI. You should also consider the benefits of working with digital forensics professionals. These experts can work to track the data of digital transactions back to the romance scammer.
Do You Believe Someone You Love Is Being Scammed?
When someone is targeted in a romance scam, their heart is the most affected. They might also never get their funds back, especially if they don’t report the crime.
Protecting the people you love from possible financial and emotional harm starts with recognizing and educating them about the warning signs of a romance scam.
Steps Family Members and Caregivers Can Take to Protect Their Loved Ones
- Discuss the dangers of giving out personal information online and educate them on common tactics used by romance scammers.
- Let them know that they can come to you without judgment if they have any concerns about someone they met online.
- Stay involved by regularly checking what they are doing online without being overbearing.
- Help them understand safe Internet practices and how to protect themselves from romance scams.
- Put your tech-savvy skills to work with reverse-image searches and simple verifications to see if there are any red flags.
For more information on how to safeguard others, we invite you to read our article, How Do I Report a Romance Scammer
