As Valentine’s Day approaches, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is urging residents to protect themselves from online romance scams.
“Every year, we see hardworking individuals lose their life savings to scammers,” Sunday said. “Scammers exploit people seeking connection, harming their targets emotionally, and in many cases, financially. If you are concerned a loved one may be communicating with a suspicious individual, please check in with them. Ask the difficult questions.”
Online romance scams remain a persistent problem in Pennsylvania. The Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection reviews these incidents and works on behalf of victims.
While seniors were previously the primary targets, non-seniors are now being targeted at nearly the same rate. Scammers often research a target’s social media accounts to gather personal information and mirror interests to build trust.
After establishing a connection, scammers frequently insist the relationship remain secret while requesting money. Victims may be asked to send funds through cryptocurrency transactions, wire transfers, or gift cards.
The Bureau of Consumer Protection works to intervene and stop the movement of money, but recovery options may be limited depending on when complaints are received.
Common scammer behavior includes:
- Asking to leave a dating site immediately in favor of email, text, or direct messaging.
- Making excuses to avoid video chats or in-person meetings, often canceling plans at the last minute.
- Using inconsistent phone numbers, email addresses, or multiple online profiles.
- Attempting to isolate victims from family and friends or asking them to lie about the relationship.
- Seeking personal or financial information or requesting compromising photos early in the conversation.
Other red flags include:
- Fake profiles on dating apps.
- Messages implying a prior relationship, such as “hey we haven’t talked in a while, hope you’re ok.”
- Friend requests on Facebook from someone the recipient may or may not know.
Consumers who believe they may have been victimized can file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection by visiting its website, emailing scams@attorneygeneral.gov, or calling 1-800-441-2555.
Victims may also report scams to the online dating platform where contact occurred, the Federal Trade Commission, or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
