Don’t let a new sweetheart swindle you out of cash

The saying “love hurts” is particularly true for consumers who have searched for romance online, only to lose thousands of dollars to a supposed suitor.

A consumer we’ll call Susan, who contacted NCL’s Fraud Center befriended a man from her Kansas City, MO., hometown, who said he was working as an Engineer in Nigeria. He wooed her for two months – sent her flowers and said, “I love you,” – before he asked her for money. Now, $35,000 later, Susan has taken out a second mortgage on her house to pay off the credit card debt she amassed sending him money.

In April 2007, a consumer we’ll call Donna cautiously ventured into the world of online dating. Within a week, she was contacted by a man with whom she began to chat. They chatted multiple times a day for seven months. He said he was a wealthy business man, who lived in a nearby city and was temporarily in Africa on business. In October, he said his contract in Africa would soon be up and that he wanted to meet, but he needed $250 to hold him over until a check cleared. Donna offended her new sweetie when she expressed her hesitancy to give money to a stranger. So she sent him the money, and later another $1,500, never to hear from him again.

“The Sweetheart Swindle is often a long, drawn-out process in which the con artist nurtures a relationship, and eventually convinces the victim to send money repeatedly over an extended period of time,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of NCL. “Scammers lurk in chat rooms and on online dating sites, attempting to earn someone’s affections and trust so that they can persuade him or her to send money.”

Though the details of the scammers’ stories vary with each individual case, the scenario commonly revolves around a tragedy having befallen the scammer, and he or she desperately needs money. After spending time communicating and building a relationship with the victim, the scammer asks for help in the form of money.

Use caution and common sense when dealing with someone you haven’t met in person. Never send a new friend money in any form, no matter how compelling or heart-wrenching their story may be. Don’t let your ‘love’ for your online suitor to allow you to be robbed blind. While they may not love you, they would love to take your money, so be sure to only consider giving money to someone you’ve met in person, have known for a long time, and can truly trust. Or be prepared to kiss your money – and your special friend – goodbye.

Indicators you may be dealing with a scammer:

• The person asks you for money, to cash a check or money order.
• Your online sweetie says, “I love you” almost immediately.
• The person claims to be a U.S. citizen who is abroad, and or claims to be well off, or a person of important status.
• The person claims to be a contractor, and needs your help with a business deal.