Valentine’s Day might celebrate true love, but scammers are using online romance to break your heart and empty your bank balance.
In 2021, Canberrans lost almost $2 million through dating and romance scams on social media and apps, and Australians lost more than $56 million – exceeding the $38.9 million lost in 2020.
Shane Rattenbury, ACT Attorney-General and Minister for Consumer Affairs, said scammers used a broader range of digital platforms to target victims, including social media, dating websites and apps, and instant messaging services.
“We want Canberrans to be aware of these scams, particularly [on] Valentine’s Day,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“There are a number of steps people can take to protect themselves against scammers. This includes doing online checks such as a reverse image search to find out whether the profile photo of their romantic interest is legitimate.
“Never provide money or bank details to someone you have never met, even if you have known them online for several months.”
Red flags to look for include: requests for funding – usually small amounts that build over time; a reluctance to meet or talk on the phone; and a potential partner based overseas who seeks funding to travel to meet.
Some tips to help you eliminate those who might be swindlers:
• Be open to the idea that scammers are prevalent online.
• Be wary of anyone who asks you for money. This can happen within days, weeks, or months of meeting someone online. Never transfer money via direct deposit, money order, or international transfer.
• Do a reverse image search of the person’s profile picture. You can do this via Google images by clicking on the camera icon on the desktop version of the site’s search bar. This can help you identify if the image has been taken from someone else, or belongs to multiple people with different names.
• Be aware of the amount of personal information you share. Avoid sharing compromising material, which scammers can use to blackmail you.
People seeking a romantic partner should communicate within the app, where there are greater protections for users, rather than on a different chat platform. Dating apps can remove the profile of those reported to be a potential scammer. This will benefit others on the dating app who are also in contact with that person.
“We know that many scams go unreported, but I would encourage anyone who thinks they have been scammed, even if they have not suffered a financial loss, to report the matter to the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) through ScamWatch,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“By reporting scams to the ACCC, you’re helping them monitor trends, warn people about emerging issues, and disrupt scams where possible. Your actions could save someone from the emotional and financial toll of being scammed, so please don’t be embarrassed to report if you’ve been scammed.”
Report scams to the national Scamwatch service at scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam.
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