What to know about the innocent people romance scammers use as bait
Scammers steal photos of real people and use them to build fake dating and social media profiles. The scheme has reportedly cost victims an estimated $1.4 million over eight years.
How it works
The contact usually starts on a dating app or social media site, where a scammer posts a profile using photos stolen from a real person. The fake profile looks trustworthy, so the target responds and the two build a relationship over days or weeks. Once trust is established, the scammer invents a reason to ask for money, such as an emergency, a travel cost, or a medical bill. The real person whose photos were stolen often has no idea their identity is being used.
Red flags to watch for
- Profile photos appear online under other names
- Few posts, or photos that look too polished
- Relationship moves fast and declares love early
- Avoids live video calls or in-person meetings
- Asks for money, gift cards, or crypto
What to do
Do not send money, gift cards, or crypto to anyone you have met only online. Run a reverse image search (Google Lens or TinEye) on the profile photos; if they appear under other names, stop contact and report the profile to the platform. Report the scam to reportfraud.ftc.gov, and if you already sent money, call your bank or card issuer right away.
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Source: WTOP DC. Scam Sentinel summarizes this news report in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.