Dating sites are "riddled with scammers", a bank has warned as it found two-thirds of romance fraud victims are women.

People who are targeted as part of the scams on average make payments to criminals over a two-month period, dating site fraud, analysis by TSB also found.

The payments are typically made over 62 days and a victim's average age is 47, it said.

Read more: Romance fraudster posing as Nicolas Cage scammed vulnerable woman out of thousands of pounds

The bank reported that it has refunded victims ranging from 18-years-old to 77, with female customers making up 66% of the cases it analysed.

Repeated transactions within romance fraud "relationships" are a core component of the scams, with fraudsters tending to invent a "sob story" for why they need money quickly.

Victim paid £40,000 to fraudster

In one case, a woman was convinced she was talking to a soldier stuck overseas who claimed he needed money to return home for Christmas, the bank said.

In total, she sent £1,200 over six payments to the scammer, realising she had been deceived just four days before Christmas.

Another example lasted nearly two years after a female customer was approached on Instagram and carried on talking to the perpetrator on WhatsApp.

Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Dating site fraud more: Tinder tackles catfishing with ID verification

The fraudster shared emotive stories to support his need for cash, including ones concerning police bail, hotel fees, and flights.

The victim made 36 payments, amounting to £40,000, which TSB said was fully refunded - along with 97% of all bank fraud cases bought to its attention.

During its analysis, the bank also found the longest "relationship" spanned almost three years and more than one in 10 lasted more than six months.

'Don't put your trust in someone you've never met'

TSB's director of fraud prevention, Paul Davis, said dating sites are "riddled with scammers" and it is important people "remain on guard" while online.

He dating site fraud "Dating sites and social media can be a great way of meeting people and staying connected during the pandemic - but they're also riddled with scammers, hoping to break your heart and your bank balance with cruel and complex tricks.

"When interacting online, dating site fraud, it's important to remain on guard. Don't put your trust in people you've never met in person - and if the conversation ever moves on to money, then it's time to stop."

TSB's data covered the period December 2020 to January 2022.

The con typically works something like this: You post a dating profile and up pops a promising match — good-looking, smart, funny and personable. Supposed suitors might also reach out on social media; more than a third dating apps people ask to message their email people who lost money to dating site fraud romance scam in 2021 reported that it started on Facebook or Instagram, according to the FTC. 

This potential mate claims to live in another part of the country or to be abroad for business or a military deployment. But he or she seems smitten and eager to get to know you better, and suggests you move your relationship to a private channel like email or a chat app.

Over weeks or months, you feel yourself dating site fraud closer. You make plans to meet in person, but for your new love something always comes up. Then you get an urgent request. There’s an emergency (a medical problem, perhaps, or a business dating site fraud and your online companion needs you to send money dating site fraud, usually via gift cards, prepaid debit cards, dating site fraud, cryptocurrency, or a bank or wire transfer.

They'll promise to pay it back, but that will never happen. Instead, they will keep asking for more until you realize it's a scam and cut them off.

Romance scams can overlap with or evolve into other forms of fraud. For example, dating site fraud, international criminal gangs use dating sites to recruit unwitting “money mules” to launder ill-gotten funds through their bank accounts or other means. And con artists are increasingly luring supposed sweethearts into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.

The older the target, the heavier the financial toll. The median individual loss from a romance scam for people 70 and over was $9,000 in 2021, according to the FTC, compared to $2,400 across all age groups.

Online dating scams continue to rise, costing unsuspecting victims millions of dollars each year. Rather than simply sending phishing emails, cybercriminals are playing the long game to cheat people out of their money.

If you are using an online dating platform, dating site fraud, make sure to look for signs that the person you're talking to is actually a scammer, dating site fraud. Keep reading to learn how to avoid online dating scams.

Who Do Dating Site Scams Target?

Scammers target people across different demographics on every dating platform possible, dating site fraud. This means that regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, or preferred platform, no one is off-bounds to a scammer.

However, they tend to target older people more often. Meanwhile, the biggest targets for long-term catfishing scams are people who are vulnerable or isolated.

Plenty of Fish (POF) scams are particularly prevalent due to the large nature of the network. However, scams exist on sites like Ashley Madison, Match.com, and the majority of other dating sites.

With the rise of dating apps, scammers cast an even wider net for potential targets and automate much of the process, using bots to lure victims into scams, dating site fraud. It's one of the reasons that online dating sucks.

How to Spot a Dating Scammer

If you suspect that you've encountered an online dating scammer, these are some surefire red flags.

1. Profile Warning Signs

There are a few signs you should look out for when looking at a potential match's dating site fraud dating profile. A few typical traits of a scammer's profile include:

• Their profiles have very few images best online dating sites for over 50 images that seem to be model or glamour stock photos.
• Despite looking for singles in your area, they work or live in another country, dating site fraud.
• Many scammers claim to be on military deployment in another country.

On dating apps, scammers and bots will have very limited profile information. They also tend to only have one or two photos and do not link their profile to their Instagram or other accounts.

Read more: How to Spot a Fake Profile on Online Dating Apps

2. They Try to Take the Conversation Elsewhere

Online dating scammers, especially those that catfish victims, will quickly ask you to move to another form of messaging outside the platform where you met.

Often, scammers will want to communicate via written messages on social media apps like Facebook or Instagram. However, they may also choose to message you via SMS or an app like WhatsApp. Be wary of anyone you haven't met that wants to move the conversation to another platform.

3. Your Match Professes Love Early On

Online dating scammers tend to move very quickly in terms of professing an emotional connection. Within a short period, they may say they love you and that they feel a very deep connection to you.

This is all part of the emotional manipulation involved in catfishing while using online dating sites. It's also why people who are vulnerable and isolated are such desirable targets—since they're yearning for a connection. You should look out for any matches that are overly flattering and overly devoted early on in your communication lesbian dating tampa you haven't even met.

Related: Dating App Privacy Disasters and How to Protect Yourself

4. They Want To Meet You, But Something Always Comes Up

A common line among online dating scammers is that they want to meet you, dating site fraud, but when the time comes, there is always some unexpected issue. Since the scammer is not the person they claim to be, they don't want to meet in person.

This is also the reason why so many scammers claim to work in another country or be on military deployment; it provides them with an excuse for not being able to meet up. In fact, many scammers use photos of military personnel and soldiers on their profiles.

The inability to meet you may even be the supposed reason they first try to solicit money from a victim. They may claim to need money to buy a ticket to travel to meet you. Sometimes, they'll say that border officials detained them and they need money for their release.

5. They Avoid Video Chat Completely

Scammers might avoid phone calls or voice and video chats. However, many can fake their accents. No matter what, though, dating site fraud, a catfish will not appear in video chat since they use fake profile images. Be wary if your match is never willing to appear in video chat or always makes excuses about their camera being broken.

Most smartphones now have built-in selfie cameras, which makes video chatting relatively easy. Some people may initially hesitate to appear on video chat out of shyness, dating site fraud. But it's a red flag if someone professes love, yet won't let you talk to them over video after weeks of communication.

Related: Tinder Helps You Stay Safe While Dating

6. They Request Money From You

Inevitably, a catfish will request money from you, as this is the ultimate goal of most scammers, dating site fraud. There are a variety of scenarios that they may invent—from family emergencies, health issues, or travel problems.

Particularly inventive scammers may even trick you into sending them money by purportedly sending you a package that requires customs fees, dating site fraud. Scammers don't necessarily work alone, so you may receive a phone call or documents from someone posing as a third party to request fees.

Some scammers even request financial dating site fraud or financial investment related to their fictional business, dating site fraud. If any kind of financial request comes from your suitor or from something related to them (such as a package or business), this is the biggest sign that you are the target of a scam.

7. They Ask for Your Help With Financial Transactions

One of the newer online dating scams doesn't request money from victims, but turns them into "money mules." Rather than trying dating site fraud get money from the victim, these scammers make you an accomplice in money laundering.

One example includes the scammer sending money to the victim, who then sends them an Amazon card or another kind of gift card. Other times they might send you money and ask you to send it to another account for them.

Sometimes, scammers may ask a victim to open a bank account for them. If your online suitor asks you to get involved in these types of financial transactions and exchanges, it's likely that they're a scammer trying to lure you into illegal activities.

8, dating site fraud. They Send You a Link to Another Service or Website

Some scammers don't bother with catfishing, rather using more efficient ways to exploit dating site fraud. This is especially true on online dating apps where bot profiles are prevalent.

If a match sends you a link to an app, game, service, or website they say they want you to try out, this dating site fraud often a ploy to get you to supply financial information or download malware. It is essentially the online dating version of phishing and is a very popular tactic for scammers on dating apps like Tinder.

How to Outsmart a Romance Scammer

Besides spotting a potential scammer, there are a few precautions you can take to avoid online dating scams. Firstly, use reverse image searches and tools like Social Catfish to verify a person's online identity. You should check that the same image isn't appearing across a variety of profiles under different names.

REVERSE LOOKUP:

SOCIAL CATFISH

You should also keep up-to-date on the different types of dating scams emerging, especially those related to the platform you're using. Not all dating scams involve prolonged catfishing, and certain mobile dating app scams differ from dating website dating site fraud Tinder Will Let You Run Background Checks on Your Dates

Finally, never reveal too much information about yourself to someone you've never met. A catfish will use your financial situation and whether you're vulnerable to determine whether you're an ideal target.

If you receive overly flattering introduction emails or messages on an online dating site, simply don't respond. On mobile dating apps, dating site fraud, don't match with profiles that seem suspicious.

Furthermore, dating site fraud, never send intimate images of yourself to an online acquaintance—scammers are now using these types of pictures for blackmail and extortion schemes. Finally, if warning signs pop up and you are unable to verify the person's identity, cut off communication immediately.

Protect Yourself While Dating Online

One of the most important measures to be mindful of when dating online is to protect your privacy. This not only helps you avoid scams but can also protect you from creeps and cyberstalkers. Ensure you don't share too much, and always avoid linking between social media apps to stay safe online.

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About The Author

Megan Ellis (124 Articles Published)

Megan is a Junior Editor at MUO. In 2016, she decided to unite her qualification in New Media and lifetime of geekiness to pursue a career in tech and gaming journalism. You can usually find her writing about a variety of topics and drooling over new gadgets. She has a BA Honours in Linguistics and Applied Language Studies in addition to her Bachelor of Journalism.

More From Megan Ellis

1. Payment Card Fraud:

This type of fraud involves the use of stolen or counterfeit payment cards to make direct purchases or cash withdrawals. It also includes the use of stolen card data to buy items over the phone or via the internet.

Crime Prevention Advice

• Keep your card in a safe place at all times, dating site fraud. Do not leave it lying around. Report it to your bank immediately if it is lost or stolen.

• Keep your PIN safe, dating site fraud. Do Not write it down, Do Not keep it with your card and Do Not give it to anyone.

• If you are expecting a card or a PIN in the post and it does not arrive, notify your card issuer immediately.

• Sign any new cards as soon as they arrive from your bank or card issuer. Ensure that you cut up the old cards as soon as the new ones become valid.

• Cover your PIN when making in-store purchases or using an ATM.

• Keep your card in sight when paying for goods or services.

2. Invoice Redirection Fraud:

This type of fraud involves criminals contacting businesses or sellers usually by email, but sometimes by phone or other means of communication. The criminal pretends to be a supplier of goods or services that you already do business with and requests that the bank account details recorded for the legitimate supplier are changed on your financial system. The next time an invoice arrives from the legitimate supplier the payment is sent to an account controlled by the criminal instead of the supplier. This results in significant financial loss which may not be identified until a reminder email is received from the legitimate supplier. In such cases not only does the business lose money but they still have an outstanding invoice to pay to the legitimate supplier.

Crime Prevention Advice

• Ensure that all staff are aware of this type of fraud and that all requests to change bank account details are brought to the attention of a supervisor for consideration.

• Always make a phone call or direct contact with a known contact at the suppliers that has requested the change of top dating apps for cannabis smokers details to verify whether the request is correct.

• Ensure the contact is made independently and never respond directly by using the contact details contained in the email or provided by the sender as you may be contacting the fraudster.

3. CEO Fraud:

This type of fraud is similar to Invoice Redirection Fraud however in this case junior employees in the finance department of a company receive an email from a criminal purporting to be the Chief Executive Officer stating that an important deal or some other urgent matter is pending and that a dating site fraud payment needs to be processed immediately. Overawed by the involvement of the CEO, dating site fraud, and the tone of the email which generally insists on secrecy, the employee acts on the email instruction and transfers a substantial sum of money to the specified bank to close the deal. It subsequently transpires when the employee plucks up the courage to tell someone else, that the CEO is oblivious to the transaction and that the email provided was false. By the time the fraud is detected the money is often gone.

Crime Prevention Advice

• Training is a key element to avoiding this type of fraud by educating both CEO’s, senior executives and staff about emails or communications of this nature.

• Staff should be empowered to question requests of this nature.

• Companies should have very clear policies and procedures in place, known to all employees for dating site fraud payment transfers or high level requests from senior management.

• The use of additional verification processes should be utilised by employees as a matter of course. A phone call to the CEO to assist in confirming the transaction or a visual communication should be mandatory.

4. Email Fraud otherwise known as Phishing:

This type of fraud involves criminals making contact dating site fraud email and can take a number of forms. The email may appear to be from a reputable company however when one clicks on the email or attachment or link within the email, malicious software (malware) is downloaded onto the PC or other device allowing the criminal to track online activity and identify personal or financial information for fraudulent purposes. Both individuals and companies can be victims of this type of crime.

In other cases, the criminal uses temptation as a dating site fraud to extract money from you by pretending that you have won or inherited a large sum of money to convince you to provide personal or banking details or to transfer money.

Crime Prevention Advice

• Don’t open unsolicited emails.

• Don’t respond to any unsolicited email seeking personal, financial or security advice.

• Never click on a link or attachment in an unsolicited email.

• If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

• If you believe the email is from a genuine source, verify this independently. Independently means independent of the email sender

• Independently verify any requests for information and never use the contact details supplied to you by the caller or texter. Independent means independent of the caller or texter.

5. Phone Fraud otherwise known as Vishing or Smishing:

This type of fraud involves criminals contacting you by phone (vishing) or by text (Smishing) pretending to be your bank, credit card issuer, utility company or often a computer company. During the conversation they will try and trick you into giving personal, banking or security information. They may also convince you to make a money transfer to them or inform you that you have won a prize and need to send money to release it. Their intention is to use this information to commit fraud against you or other parties in your name.

Crime Prevention Advice

• Always say “NO” to unsolicited callers or texters seeking private information about you. Private information includes your name, address, dating site fraud, date of birth, dating site fraud, family details, bank account numbers, PIN, dating site fraud, Passwords

• Independently verify any requests for information and never use the contact details supplied to you by the caller or texter. Independent means independent of the caller or texter.

• The caller may already have some information about you so don’t trust them because they use your name or other personal information.

• An Garda Síochána or your bank will never look for your Banking PIN number or Password or ask you to transfer money, or come to your home to collect your payment card, cheque book or cash.

6. Advance Fee Fraud:

This type of fraud involves criminals targeting victims to make advance or upfront payments for goods, services or financial gains that do not materialize. These can take many forms including:

i. Rental Fraud where would-be tenants are tricked into paying a fee to rent a property that doesn’t exist.

ii. Romance Fraud where a victim unknowingly forms an online relationship with dating site fraud criminal who is using a fake online profile who then asks for money for sick relatives or to come and visit. They may also seek personal information with intent to commit fraud.

iii. Inheritance Fraud where the criminal pretends that someone very rich has died and has left you a large sum of money and will organize the payment of the inheritance for a fee.

iv. Lottery Fraud where the victim is told that they have won a lottery or prize draw and need to pay money to release the funds.

v. Ticket fraud where tickets are bought online that do not materialize.

vi. Ghost Broker /Car Insurance frauds where the insurance product does not exist or cover what it claims to do.

vii. Investment fraud where investment opportunities are advertised online which do not exist.

Crime Prevention Advice

• If it seems too good to be true it probably is.

• Beware of unsolicited offers of service or benefits.

• Ensure that you have independently verified the identity of the person or company you are dealing with and if that is not possible end contact immediately.

• Never give any personal financial or security information to any person or company unless you have satisfied yourself that they are genuine.

• Be wary if you are asked to transfer money to non-identifiable locations such as PO Boxes or through Money Transfer companies rather than bank accounts.