Romance scams have become a major concern, especially around Valentine’s Day. Scammers create fake identities to deceive people, often targeting seniors. These criminals quickly express love, avoid meeting in person, and invent emergencies to ask for money. In 2023, victims lost over $1.14 billion to such scams. For instance, a woman in Georgia sent $70,000 to a scammer, and a French woman lost nearly $850,000 to fraudsters using an AI-generated version of Brad Pitt. Authorities warn people to avoid sharing personal details, take things slowly in online relationships, and never send money to someone they've only spoken to online. If scammed, victims should contact credit bureaus immediately to freeze their credit.
Vocabulary:
• Scammer (noun): A person who tricks others to steal money.
• Fraudster (noun): Someone who deceives people to get money illegally.
• Affection (noun): A feeling of fondness or love.
• Deceive (verb): To make someone believe something false.
• Identity (noun): The characteristics that make a person who they are.
• Emergency (noun): A sudden, urgent situation needing quick action.
• Impersonate (verb): To pretend to be someone else.
• Cybercrime (noun): Illegal activities done using the internet.
• Platform (noun): A website or app where people communicate or share content.
• Dupe (verb): To trick or deceive someone.
• Trust (noun): Belief that someone is honest and reliable.
• Red flag (noun): A warning sign that something might be wrong.
• Crypto (noun): Short for cryptocurrency; digital money.
Source: ABC News