Police have issued a warning about romance scams as they say the number of such scams has increased over the last few months.
Police said they have been receiving reports of such scams and that these scams in which criminals take advantage of people's emotional vulnerability to then go to manipulate and or steal from the victim.
They said that such cases are usually common when the victim meets the scammers on an online platform including social media sites as well as online dating sites.
Police said usually the scammers are from faraway countries and that they lure the victims with fake profiles and online identities.
They said that scammers will usually use the victims' psychological vulnerability against them to manipulate them emotionally and gain their trust. Police warned that eventually, the scammers will seek financial assistance from their victims by creating fake emergencies to manipulate their sympathy.
Police said often times the scammers 'ghost' their victims which is abruptly ending communication with someone without explanation.
Law enforcement agencies recommend the following instructions to avoid entangling in such scams;
- Research the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.
- Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family or requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.
- Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.
Police also recommend reporting such suspicious accounts to the platforms.
