GARDAÍ warned people of the dangers of romance fraudsters this Valentine’s Day after a woman was duped out of almost €50,000 to an online romance scam artist.
Sergeant Aoife Bannon, crime prevention officer at Henry Street Garda Station, said that “with Valentine’s Day this weekend, love is very much in the air, but we want to remind people to stay vigilant if they’re using online dating sites or apps”.
“Some of these scams are genuinely heartbreaking. Victims believe they’ve found the perfect partner online, but the person behind the profile is a scammer who’s slowly building trust with the sole aim of asking for money,” explained Sergeant Bannon.
Outlining a recent example, Sergeant Bannion said Gardaí were aware of a married woman who had received gifts from a person she thought was her perfect partner online but persuaded her to “invest” in their fake business.
“Over 13 months, she handed over €48,000. She didn’t report it immediately because she was married, and that sense of embarrassment is something we see far too often,” said Sergeant Bannon.
The real scale of romance fraud is likely much higher because many people are afraid to come forward, she explained.
Sergeant Bannon said people looking for love should be vigilant of certain behaviours which can trigger suspicions.
“Romance fraudsters will often try to move the conversation off the dating site very quickly, over to messaging apps, texts, or calls,” said Sergeant Bannon.
“They’ll push to build a strong emotional bond early on, to make you feel connected. And eventually, there will be a request for money. Maybe not directly at first, but they’ll drop hints about financial problems hoping you’ll offer to help.”
Sergeant Bannon said a major red flag that one is in contact with a romance fraudster is that “they will never meet you in person”.
“There’s always a last-minute cancellation or excuse, often tied to a story that conveniently requires more money,” she said.
Gardaí advised anyone who thinks they are being targeted by a romance fraudster to follow the following protocols: only use reputable, trusted dating sites; don’t overshare your personal information, particularly personal or intimate photos of yourself; never send or receive money from someone you don’t know; and, most importantly, trust your instincts.
Gardaí said people who think their personal information has been compromised should contact a Garda Station.
“I assure anyone who may be reading this that all of these reports are treated in confidence and there’s absolutely no need for embarrassment,” said Sergeant Bannon.
“These scammers are highly skilled manipulators, and absolutely anyone can be targeted,” she added.