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Cupid’s poisoned arrow
Roses are red,
You’re feeling blue,
‘cause I am a scammer
and I have scammed you!
Potential partners aren’t always who
they say they are. Scammers use dating
websites, apps or social media to take
advantage of people looking for romance.
Scammer profile
• They use emotional triggers to get
you to hand over money, gifts or
personal details.
• They have fake online profiles with
fictional names and some even take
on the identities of real people to
gain your trust.
• They claim to be from the UK but
work overseas.
The warning signs
• Quick to express strong feelings,
asks for a private email to avoid
chat through the dating website, as
this hides communication.
• Inconsistent profiles that don’t
match descriptions on dating
website or Facebook.
• Poor English despite a claimed
university education or poorly
written messages and even address
you by the wrong name.
• Having gained your trust they
tell elaborate stories resulting in
To advertise please call 01908 380777
requests for money, gifts or your
bank/credit card details. If you don’t
react messages or calls become
more desperate or direct, or if you
send money requests continue.
• Promises aren’t kept and excuses
are given for why they can’t travel
to meet you.
Protect yourself
People are not always who they seem:
Do
• An image search of your admirer
to check that they are who they say
they are.
• Use a Skype camera to see what
they look like.
• Look at spelling and grammar errors
and inconsistencies in stories
Do not
• Share personal/intimate pictures
and videos to avoid blackmail risks.
• Send money or give credit card
details, online account details,
or copies of important personal
documents to anyone you don’t
know or trust.
• Arrange up-front payments
via money order, wire transfer,
international funds transfer, preloaded
card or electronic currency.
• Transfer money for someone else.
Money laundering is a criminal
offence and you may be prosecuted.
Always
• Tell family and friends who, when
and where you are meeting. Avoid
overseas travel if you have never
met the person before.
• Limit the personal information
you share on social networks. Your
information and pictures can be
used to create a fake identity or to
target you with a scam.
If you think you have
been scammed:
• Report it to the website, app,
or social media site where the
scammer first approached you.
• Give them the scammer’s profile
name and details that may prevent
others from being scammed.
• Inform the bank/ credit card fraud
team immediately.
• Report the matter to Action Fraud
by visiting their website.
Claire Kendall, MK Trading Standards
29