Love is literally in the air, thanks to the continued adoption of social media and onlinedating platforms which has transformed the way people initiate and nurture romanticrelationships. This is seen as an opportunity by the cybercriminals by launchingonline Romance Scams. The rise of online dating apps has made it easier forscammers to find potential victims. The scammers will create a fake profile and use flattering messages and compliments to lure the victim into a false sense of security. Once the victim is emotionally invested, the scammer will start asking for money or personal information, claiming they need it for an emergency or to meet the victim in person.
One of the reasons romance scams are so successful is because they rely on the victim’s emotions, who are more likely to let their guard down and ignore warning signs. They use a variety of techniques to compel the victim to form intense emotional feelings for them.
Stages:
Usually, the scammer takes the victim through a number of stages prior to asking for
any money.
a. At a very early stage the scammer declares their love for the victim and requests
that their relationship move from the dating site to any instant messenger, phone and email, stating they want an exclusive relationship with the victim.
b. Thereafter, the scamster grooms the victim, using online media, in particular, to
develop a close, intimate relationship with the victim.
c. Communication is frequent and intense, over periods of weeks, months or even years.
d. Victims usually then self- disclose intimate secrets about themselves and develop a trusting relationship with the scamster. During the grooming stage they fall in love with the scamster.
e. Towards the end of this stage the scamster: (1) either wants to give gifts and take it through the process and at the time of receiving, some amount is required to be paid as customs duty (which is not real). (2) either asks for gifts (e.g., perfume, mobile phone) as a testing the water strategy. Following receipt of such gifts the scammer will make requests for small amounts of money,
which then accelerates to larger amounts of money. Sometimes this involves other characters being brought into the narrative. Like a ‘doctor’ might contact the victim telling them their loved one is in hospital. Money might be requested
to pay fictitious hospital bills, or for airplane tickets.
f. The fraud ends only when the victim learns they have been scammed and ceases to give money or the scamster disappears from all the channels of communications (ghosting).
Romance scams can have devastating consequences for the victim. No doubt that
romance scams do more harm than just money loss. There are also significant social and psychological aspects to it. Not only can they lose money, but they may also experience shame and embarrassment for falling for the scam. Victims may feel like they have lost the chance at finding love or may have difficulty trusting others in the future. In extreme cases, some victims may become suicidal.
Be aware of the warning signs:
1) The other person is too good to be true. They are extremely attractive, wealthy,
or successful and seem too perfect.
2) Their intention is to establish a relationship as quickly as possible, endear
himself to the victim, and gain trust. Scammers may propose marriage and make plans to meet in person, but that will never happen. Eventually, they will ask for money.
3) They ask for money or personal information, especially early on in the relationship.
4) They refuse to meet in person or make excuses for not being able to meet.
5) If someone you meet online needs your bank account information to deposit
money, they are most likely using your account to carry out other theft and fraud schemes.
6) They are highly trained professionals who are experts in creating highly validating narratives. Such narratives are able to gently “groom” their target.
Obligation of platforms in romance scam:
Platforms such as dating apps/ matrimonial apps have a responsibility to take a proactive approach to preventing romance scams on their platforms. By verifying the identity of their users, educating them about the risks of scams, responding quickly to reports of fraudulent activity, and fostering a culture of trust and transparency, dating apps can help to protect their users from the emotional and financial damage of romance scams.
It’s essential to act quickly if you suspect that you are the victim of a romance scam. The longer you wait, the harder it may be to recover your money or track down the scammer. Cheating and cheating by personation are punishable offenses under the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act 2000.
Legal remedies that you can consider:
1. File a complaint with the police: You can file a complaint with the local police station or Cyber Crime cell. Alternatively, you can upload a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in (option of being anonymous is also available). Cyber Crime Helpline is 1930. Provide all the details of the scam, including the scammer’s profile and communication, bank account details, and other relevant information.
2. Report to the bank: If you have transferred any money to the scammer’s account, you can contact your bank and report the fraud. They may be able to reverse the transaction or block the scammer’s account.
3. File a complaint before the Adjudicating Officer as provided in the Rules under
the Information Technology Act 2000.
In conclusion, romance scams are a serious and growing problem, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. The perpetrators who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, trustworthy and believable. By understanding the warning signs and taking proactive steps to protect yourself, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to these scams. Remember that there is no shame in seeking help and support if you have been scammed.