TECH

FTC: That Attractive Facebook Stranger Probably Does not Love You

If you're single and feeling lonely this Valentine's Day, do not let that excuse you to let your guard down.
The Federal Trade Commission is warning the public that romance scams are on the rise. The agency received more than 21,000 consumer complaints in 2018, up from 8,500 in 2015, which resulted in loss of approximately $ 143 million, an increase from the $ 33 million reported lost in 2015.
"The median individual loss to a scam reported in 2018 was $ 2,600, about seven times higher than the median across all other fraud types," the FTC said in a report on Tuesday. Scammers have been active on dating apps and social media, creating fake profiles that've been populated with attractive photos lifted from the internet. In some cases, the scheme can start with a message on Facebook, the FTC warned.
"Once these fraudsters have people by the heartstrings, they say they need money, often for medical emergency or some other misfortune," the FTC added. "They often claim to be in the military and stationed abroad, which explains why they can not meet in person." Pretending to need help with travel costs for a long-awaited visit is another common ruse. "
According to the FTC's data, victims who fall for the romance scams tend to be older. For instance, people aged between 40 and 69 reported losing money to these schemes at more than twice the rate compared to people aged in their 20s.
"At the same time, people 70 and over reported the highest individual median losses at $ 10,000," the FTC added. Victims who fall for the scheme generally send the money via bank wire transfer or by buying their phony lover gift cards. Michael Kan