How to recognize and prevent romance, sextortion scams 

As Valentine’s Day approaches, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is warning New Yorkers about romance and sextortion scams.

Romance scams occur when a criminal lies about their identity and uses romantic interest to manipulate or steal from the victim. Thieves use different variations of these scams to deceive unsuspecting daters. One common variation used is sextortion, where scammers encourage victims to send intimate images of themselves then demand money to keep it a secret and threaten to expose the victim to their contacts if payment isn’t sent.

“In this digital age when many seek romantic connections online, it’s important to know who’s really on the other end,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez, who oversees the Division of Consumer Protection. “Romance scams can hurt financially and emotionally.  I encourage New Yorkers who are looking for love online to follow basic safety tips to protect themselves and their hard-earned money from scammers.”

Although almost any age group can be lured into romance scams, the following groups are most frequently targeted:

• Teens (especially teen boys)
• College students
• Men and women over age 40
• Seniors, especially widows, widowers and recent divorcees

Common elements of the scam:

• Fake Profile Pictures: Scammers create the illusion of someone you would be attracted to and trust. They   create profiles on a wide range of online platforms including social media, dating sites, messaging apps and porn sites using pictures from the internet for their profile and may disguise their voice on the phone.
• Build Trust: Scammers are patient and will communicate for weeks or months until they’ve earned your trust.
• Unavailable to meet in person: Scammers may propose an in-person meeting, claiming they will travel to see you, but there will be a last-minute emergency preventing it from happening. Be suspicious of anyone who says they want to meet but then always makes excuses for why they can’t.
• Request Money: Scammers often start by requesting small amounts of money and paying it back quickly to build trust. Eventually, the scammers will request a large sum of money, usually as a loan, to be wired to them for things ranging from business investments, property, debts, illness and more.  Once they receive the money, the scammer will often ask for more or create a new reason they need to borrow money. This will continue until the victim becomes suspicious, at which point the scammer will usually stop all contact and disappear.
• Request Explicit Images or Videos: Some online encounters end in unwanted behaviors including extortion. Scammers may request or coerce victims into sending intimate, explicit images or videos of themselves. They may even coerce victims to perform intimate acts on camera.

Tips to Avoid Romance or Sextortion Scams:

• Never give or loan money to someone that you have not met in person.  Do not give out personal information, including payment and banking information.
• Use trusted online dating sites, but still exercise caution. Beware of online interactions that quickly ask you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.
• Be cautious of people you meet online who say they are an American abroad or a deployed soldier.
• Schedule a video-chat early in the relationship to ensure they are the person they are presenting in their profile.
• Research anyone in whom you have an interest. Ask questions. Look them up online. Verify details where you can.
• Do a reverse image search of the person’s profile picture. If it is linked to another name, it’s likely a scam.
• Familiarize yourself with privacy settings of all your online platforms and consider limiting who has access to your personal information, contact lists and location.
• Turn off or cover your web cameras when you’re not using them.
• Talk to your children and teens about online safety and online luring. Many sextortion incidents occur on Instagram or Snapchat. Remind them that pictures or videos can be saved by others and used later for blackmailing. Check out additional resources on the FBI website.

New Yorkers who have fallen victim to a romance or sextortion scam should report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. 

For more consumer protection information, call the New York State Division of Consumer Protection Helpline at 800-697-1220, or visit the DCP website at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via Twitter or Facebook.