Some relationship seekers in Illinois are learning an expensive lesson about looking for love in all the wrong places.
In 2021, according to FBI statistics, online con artists took the lovelorn in the state for more than $19.7 million.
That’s almost $6 million more than in 2020, according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which still is gathering information about the losses people suffered last year.
Since the center started keep statistics about internet-based crimes in 2015, the number of romance scam victims in Illinois has nearly doubled, from 332 in 2015 to 591 in 2021.
Nationwide, at least $956 million was taken in 2021 from people hoping to find relationships but falling prey to scam artists. In 2015, the amount lost was just under $204 million. Statistics indicate the numbers exploded during pandemic-era lockdowns, with losses jumping from $475 million in 2019 to more than $600 million the next year.
“Scammers create fake online profiles using photos of other people — even stolen pictures of real military personnel. They profess their love quickly. And they tug at your heartstrings with made-up stories about how they need money — for emergencies, hospital bills, or travel. Why all of the tricks? They’re looking to steal your money,” according to Federal Trade Commission consumer education specialist Aditi Jhaveri.
The federal commission also handles reports about online scams, and says it saw an 80% increase in reports from 2019 to 2020. Most of the financial loss came through gift cards, but cryptocurrency payments are on the rise, according to the FTC.
Although statistics for 2022 still are being compiled, the Better Business Bureau of Central Illinois said the number of romance scam cases reported more than doubled in the first two months of last year alone.
Authorities say many of the crimes may go unreported because of embarrassment.
“Scammers use well-rehearsed scripts that have been used repeatedly and successfully, typically targeting victims via dating websites or apps, with the intention of establishing a relationship as quickly as possible,” according to the FBI. “Some even keep journals on their victims to better understand how to manipulate and exploit them. Criminals targeting women with romance scams often create a persona of a successful businessman, while those targeting men often create the persona of a young beautiful woman.”
There are some tell-tale signs, according to the FTC: An online love interest says they can’t meet in person for some reason — they work in the military or live or work out of the country; they not only ask for money, but tell you how it should be sent — wiring it through Western Union or MoneyGram, putting it on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes or other gift cards and giving them the PIN numbers or using a money transfer app.
Romance scams are not the most common online con game nationwide, coming in sixth in terms of the number of victims, but they resulted in the third-highest amount of losses, according to a study by Proxyrack.
“Valentine’s Day should be an occasion for celebrating the people we love and cherish, but for many at this time of year, the heightened search for a love interest online can result in an increased risk of becoming a fraud victim,” according to Ariana Bago, fraud executive at Proxyrack.
The FBI’s Springfield office says to be wary of someone professing love a little too quickly and to be suspicious of photos that look too professional or of stories about severe life circumstances, tragedies or other hardships.
“Here’s the real deal: Don’t send money to someone you met online — for any reason,” Jhaveri said. “If your online sweetheart asks for money, you can expect it’s a scam.”
The FBI is among agencies that regularly try to educate people about the potential dangers of online relationships, according to Springfield office Special Agent in Charge David Nanz.
“Fraudsters won’t stop pursuing a victim until the victim calls it quits,” he said. “Proceed carefully and stay alert to warning signs from the very beginning to avoid the emotional and financial fall-out that accompanies romance scams.”
He suggests going slowly, asking questions and stopping all contact immediately if something seems off about the relationship.
Among other cautionary notes:
- Never send money to someone you met online and have not met in person.
- Never share your Social Security number or other personally identifiable information.
- Research the individual’s picture and profile using other online search tools.
- If planning to meet someone in person, proceed with caution, especially if traveling to a foreign country.
- Be careful what you post and make public online because scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and create a target.
If you haven’t met the individual in person after a few months, you have good reason to be suspicious, according to authorities.
