It was early in the morning, Michael’s phone was buzzing from receiving several text messages. Looking at the notification on the phone he saw it was from Charity, “I love you and miss you.” No lady had given him much attention before and he couldn’t wait to finally meet her. In the meantime, he’ll just have to be patient, at least the money he sent to sub for her was being put to good use in sending him messages.
Unbeknownst to Micheal, Charity was not really a lady, in fact, the person did not exist. Her social media account, through which Michael met her was filled with fake details and another lady’s photo. To make the whole thing seem real, the crook behind the account has enlisted his girlfriend into the scam. So whenever Micheal called, she would answer the phone and pose as Charity.
The story above is common and has come to be known by the term “Catfishing.” This is when scammers use fake profiles and identities to befriend people on social platforms. Such people are usually looking for romantic or committed relationships and the aim for the scammers is to manipulate such people for pecuniary benefits. Note that the story above is only one of several iterations, and the scam can take various forms or be conducted across large distances such as the scammer and victim residing in different countries.
Are you at risk?
While some romance scammers may operate like spammers, casting as wide a net as possible, others are more clinical and select their victims. They seek out targets that are more open to their manipulation such as those who have recently experienced heartbreak, divorced, or lonely. Also, those fond of sharing a lot of information on social media concerning personal issues or matters of the heart, are likely targets for romance scammers.
Warning Signs
If you’re looking for love, especially in the social app space, there is every tendency you’re going to have a run-in with romance scammers. Hence, it is imperative that you keep your head out of the clouds long enough to look for the following signs.
Grammar: Compare grammar against the background of the person. For instance, someone who claims to be well educated and keeps making grammatical blunders is a warning sign. This is because some scammers are not well educated.
Also, if a love interest sends a message or email, copy and paste parts of it in a search engine to see if it has been used elsewhere on the internet. If it has then that is a warning sign because scammers often you the same format of messages on different targets or just copy stuff straight off the internet.
Change of platform: Beware of immediate requests for change of platform. You meet someone on a dating app, and the person immediately asks you to continue the chat via Whatsapp or some other platform.
Asking for money: If you’re being asked for gift cards, recharge cards, subscription payments, or that a family member is in the hospital and cash is needed, that’s a huge warning sign that you’re dealing with a scammer.
Love bombing: Someone you’ve just met has already started bombarding you with love messages or is using terms of endearment like calling you “baby”. Scammers are known for immediately trying to get intimate with their victims.
Scanty social media: You check out their social media account and you see a few photos, few posts, few friends, and the connections they have are of the same sex.
Avoids meeting physically: Something always comes up when you have to meet physically. It’s either they’re traveling, an emergency came up, family problems, or a business deal went bad.
Steps for Protection
Here are some simple things you can do to protect yourself when finding love online.
Go slow: Take it slowly. Ask your potential suitor lots of questions and gauge their answers. Watch out for inconsistencies that might point to the fact that you’re dealing with a scammer.
Do a photo search: Always perform a reverse image search. The means downloading the person’s photo and doing a “search by image” on Google, Bing, and Yandex to see if the person’s photo shows up on other places under a different name.
Don’t give out personal details: Till you are sure you’re not being scammed it is better not to give out personal details. Requests for a phone number, address, work details should be met with the response “I don’t give out my personal details till I know someone better and meet them in person.”
Verify details: Do a google search of every single detail from your potential love interest. Start with their names, address, or any other details they give to you. Check for inconsistencies with their chats or claims.
Finally, remember that not all scammers are first to initiate a communication. Some are like spiders waiting on a web, they open a fake profile, fill it with interesting details and wait to be contacted. Always watch out for the warning signs and practice the safety steps listed, and you will not give love to a catfish.