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The FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation - 02/14/2012

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:55 pm
by Lioness1
The FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation February 14, 2012

"Looking for love"
Beware of Online Dating Scams

Millions of Americans visit online dating websites every year, hoping to find a companion of even a soul mate.

But today, on Valentine`s Day, we want to warn you, that criminals use these sites, too, looking to turn the lonely and vulnerable into fast money through a variety of scams.

These criminals - who also troll social media sites and chat rooms in search of romantic victims - usually claim to be Americans traveling or working abroad. In reality, they often life overseas. Their most common targets are women over 40 who are divorced, widowed, and/or disabled, but every age groug and demographic is at risk.

Here`s how the scam usually works. You`re contacted online by someone who appears interested in you. He or she may have a profile you can read or a picture that is e-mailed to you. For weeks, even months, you may chat back and forth with one another, forming a connection. You may even be sent flowers or other gifts. But ultimately, it`s going to happen - your new found "friend" is going to ask you for money.

So you send money....., but rest assured the requests won`t stop there. There will be more hardships that only you can help alleviate with your financial gifts. He may also send you checks to cash since he`s out of the country and can`t cash them himself, or he may ask you to forward him a package.

So what really happenend? You were targeted by criminals, probably based on personal information you uploaded on dating or social media sites. The pictures you were sent were most likely phony, lifted from other websites. The profiles were fake as well, carefully crafted to match your interests.

In addition to losing your money to someone who had no intention of ever visiting you, you may also have unknowingly taken part in a money loundering scheme by cashing phony checks and sending the money overseas and by shipping stolen merchandies (the forwarded package).

While the FBI and other federal partners work some of these cases - in particular those with a large number of victims or large dollar losses and/or those involving organized criminal groups - many are investigated by local and state authorities.

We strangly recommend, however, that if you think you`ve been victimized by a dating scam or any other online scam, file a complaint with our Internet Crime Complaint Center. Before forwarding the complaints to the appropriate agencies, IC3 collates and analyzes the data - looking for common threats that could link complaints together and help identify the culprits. Which helps keep everryone safer on the Internet. -

For specific tips on how to keep from being lured into an online dating scam, see the sidebar above. Awareness is the best tool for preventing crime......and in this case, even from preventing a broken heart.

Link: http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2012/fe ... ms_021412/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Podcasts and Radio
FBI "Sweetheart scams"
02/09/2012

"We currently offer four podcast shows, all of which are also aired on the radio"



Note: I also made a complaint at the IC3!

Re: The FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation - 02/14/2012

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 8:00 pm
by FrumpyBB
^^And keep it in their files, whilst we help propagating scam info.
Well, as long as they do not talk against posting scam info in the public.

Re: The FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation - 02/14/2012

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 4:27 am
by TGTBT
Did this really come from the FBI.gov website? If so, someone needs to learn how to use spell check!

Re: The FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation - 02/14/2012

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 5:04 am
by duckhunter
I noticed that too. Very official. :mrgreen:

Re: The FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation - 02/14/2012

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 9:11 am
by The Enchantress

Re: The FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation - 02/14/2012

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 2:57 am
by MerryElizabeth

One way to steer clear of these criminals all together is to stick to online dating websites with nationally known reputations.



When I read this article on the FBI website I thought about online dating websites with nationally known reputations alright. Unfortunately, I think the 'nationally known reputation' for many/most of the dating sites may very well be along this line of thinking.....Assume all are scammers until proven otherwise.

Re: The FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation - 02/14/2012

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:30 am
by duckhunter
Good point MerryElizabeth.

Nice to see you again btw.