Press Release
☷Beware of Romance Scammers Looking for More Than Love
Federal Bureau of Investigation ( By Press Release office)
Feb 15,2024
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Be careful about what personal information you share online , and remember that even the most reputable dating and social media sites can have con artists lurking around . If you ' re getting into an online relationship , consider doing a little research on the person ' s photo and profile to see if it shows up anywhere else . Take things slow and ask questions . Watch out if the person seems too good to be true or rushes you to communicate outside of the online platform . Be cautious if they try to isolate you from your friends and family . And definitely be wary if they ask for inappropriate photos or financial information that could be used against you . If they promise to meet in person but always have an excuse , that ' s a red flag . And never , I repeat , never send money to someone you don ' t personally know . Don ' t help anyone move money through your account or someone else ' s either . These scammers target vulnerable people on social media and try to establish a relationship as fast as possible . They spend a lot of time studying their victims to know how to manipulate them emotionally . They often pretend to be traveling or working overseas to avoid meeting in person . Once they gain your trust , they ' ll ask for money , usually for a supposed medical emergency or unexpected legal fees . Hey folks in Florida , be careful when you ' re making connections online because there are scammers out there who could break your heart and empty your bank account . The FBI Jacksonville Division is giving a heads up on confidence fraud , also known as romance scams . According to the FBI ' s Internet Crimes Complaint Center , people in Florida lost over $53 million to these scams in 2022 , which is a big jump from $13 million five years ago in 2017 . Nationwide , there were 19 , 000 complaints about confidence fraud in 2022 , with reported losses of at least $739 million . Here are some stats specifically for Florida: In 2017 , there were 1 , 085 victims who lost $13 , 175 , 474 . In 2022 , there were 1 , 474 victims who lost $53 , 412 , 471 . If you suspect that your online relationship is a scam , cut off all contact immediately and report it to the FBI ' s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www . ic3 . gov .
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