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Everyone in the world wants to love and be loved. However, if you’re contacted out of the blue on social media, it pays to assume you’re being targeted as part of a romance scam. Don’t believe me? Then listen to Meta, which is warning users to be on the lookout for them on Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
This Valentine’s Day, Watch Out for Scammers
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner (at the time of writing), Meta has decided to warn people to be on the lookout for romance scams. In a post on the Facebook Newsroom, Meta first explains what romance scams are, before offering some fundamental tips on how to spot them in order to stay safe.
Meta’s tips on how to spot romance scams on its apps (and others) are as follows:
- Beware of unsolicited messages, and consider limiting who can contact you.
- Be politely paranoid, checking unfamiliar accounts who contact you out of the blue.
- Be suspicious of requests for personal information or money, and ask others for advice.
Meta also lists three of the most common types of romance scams. Which is scammers impersonating military personnel looking for love, scammers impersonating celebrities looking for love, and fake dating agencies promising to find you a partner. All of which should be instant red flags.
Scammers may be criminals, but they’re not stupid. Which is why they use holidays and world events to their advantage. So, with people’s attentions turned to love around Valentine’s Day, romance scammers will double their efforts to secure new victims.
It Pays to Be Cynical When It Comes to Love
As a romantic at heart, it pains me to say that, when it comes to love, it often pays to be cynical. If you have already found love and are in a settled relationship, then happy days. However, if you’re single and looking for love, you need to be extra vigilant against romance scammers. Especially as cybercriminals are even using AI for romance scams these days.
To be honest, most romance scams should be easy to spot, and only take common sense to avoid. However, by playing on people’s desires to find “the one,” these scammers can sidestep people’s logic and cynicism, leaving them open to be fooled. So please, don’t let yourself become a victim.
