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Looking for love online? You’re not alone. According to a Pew Research study, about 30% of Americans say they have used a dating site or app in the past. While many people do find romance online, the path to a digital love story isn’t always smooth.
Romance scams are also on the rise. In 2002, over 70,000 people reported being victims of a romance scam, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). That’s just reported cases. Many people fail to report their experiences because of their shame or embarrassment. Online dating apps offer a convenient way to connect with new people and broaden your social circle, but it's important to be aware of potential risks.
Check out the video above for more on catfishing.
Online dating scams, often called “catfishing,” can happen to anyone. But seniors are at particular risk. Older adults usually have more substantial assets and can frequently be less familiar with how the platforms work. In 2022, the FTC reported that seniors lost nearly $240 million in romance scams. So what is catfishing, and how can you protect yourself?
Learn about common online scams like juice jacking, catfishing, and AI tricks and how to stay safe.
Read it hereCatfishing is a term for a type of online romance scam in which one party takes on a false online persona or fake online identity, usually by stealing photos and other information, to scam the other into a romantic relationship intentionally. These online dating scams often result in the fake user asking the other for money. But there are a few ways you can protect yourself.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), here are some of the more glaring red flags of online dating scams:
If someone you meet online needs your bank account information to deposit money, they are most likely using your account to carry out other theft and fraud schemes. Fraudsters will also often ask for money wired through Western Union or MoneyGram. They may request you load gift cards to popular retailers or send funds through money-transfer apps. In short, the FBI recommends never sending money to someone you’ve only communicated with online or by phone.
While staying connected with an online community can be fun, be cautious of what you post and make public online. The details you post can help scammers better understand you, making you a more attractive target. Avoid noting your location, pictures with your home address visible or other trackable items in the background of a picture you might share.
Have a new, exciting connection? Use a search engine to research their photo and profile to see if they have been used elsewhere. If so, that is a red flag. Take it slowly and ask plenty of questions before jumping into a relationship. If someone seems too perfect or asks you to remove your profile from a site quickly to communicate only with them, that could be a red flag.
Be wary of connections that attempt to isolate you from friends and family. Make a note of when a person promises to meet in person and comes up with reasons why they can’t. If you haven’t met them after a few months, you have good reason to be suspicious.
Once you’ve familiarized yourself with these red flags, consider an added line of defense with identity theft protection from ProtectMyID.
Learn what steps to take if your data has been compromised in a breach.
Find out more
ProtectMyID is an identity theft protection platform by Experian. The Essential plan is a free benefit included with your AAA Membership and is available to all AAA Members 18 and older. With this basic plan, members receive a one-time free scan to determine whether their personal information is publicly exposed online and the associated risk level. Other features of the service include credit monitoring, lost wallet protection, fraud resolution support and more.
AAA Members can enjoy enhanced identity protection for the upgraded ProtectMyID Deluxe or ProtectMyID Complete plans. You must have a credit card to start your subscription, but you can cancel within 30 days without a fee.
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AAA Members can click the link below to start using Experian to help protect themselves online. Not a AAA Member? Join today to unlock exclusive savings like this and more.
