Don’t fall victim to a romance scam this Valentine’s Day.
This Saturday’s holiday brings out the fraudsters, and the threat is growing with over 7,000 individuals over the age of 60 reported losing more than $389 million to romance scams in 2024.
Attorney Inspector Janice Hitzeman (HITS-min) says take precautions by confirming the legitimacy of every investment made.
“I would say that if somebody that you’ve recently just met or if you’ve only met them online is asking you to send any money you should really question that. I would say that anytime you’re dealing with your own money be careful, ask questions before you give that money away.”
She says red flags include a person’s reluctance to meet in person or via video, exaggerated wealth or success, pressure to provide money, gift cards, or invest in something, and to keep the conversation a secret.
“One of the big red flags would be if you met someone online or through social media or dating app and they’re immediately transitioning that communication to an offline platform like telegram or What’s App. The reason why fraudsters use these platforms is because the communication are encrypted end-to-end. That means it protects the fraudster.”
Ohioans can protect themselves by never sending money or gifts to someone they just met especially if only online, talk to someone about the situation, and never transfer funds on unregulated apps or platforms.
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