The saying “love hurts” is proving true for consumers who have searched for romance online, only to lose thousands of dollars
to a supposed suitor.
“The Sweetheart Swindle is often a long, drawn out process in
which the con artist nurtures a relationship, and eventually convinces the victim to send money repeatedly over an extended period of time,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director, National Consumers League.
While NCL’s Fraud Center has only been tracking this type of
scam since July 2007, it gained enough momentum in the second half of the year to move to the top 10 scam list. According to complaints logged at NCL’s Fraud Center ( www.fraud.org ), the average victim lost more than $3,038 last year to Sweetheart Swindles. However, the full extent of the fraud is unknown, given many victims’ reluctance to admit to being scammed.
“Scammers lurk in chat rooms and on online dating sites, attempting to earn someone’s affections and trust so that they can persuade him or her to send money,” Greenberg said.
Though the details of the scammers’ stories vary with each
individual case, the scenario commonly revolves around a tragedy having befallen the scammer, and he or she desper-ately needs money. After spending time communicating and building a relationship with the victim, the scammer asks for help in the form of money.
“Consumers need to use caution and common sense when dealing
with someone they haven’t met in person. Remember to never send the person money in any form, no matter how compelling or heart-wrenching their story may be,” Greenberg said. “Don’t let your ‘love’ for your online suitor to allow you to be robbed
blind. While they may not love you, they would love to take your money, so be sure to only consider giving money to someone you’ve met in person, have known for a long time, and can truly trust. Or be prepared to kiss your money – and your special friend – goodbye.”
Indicators you may be dealing with a scammer:
- The person asks you for money, to cash a check or money order.
- Your online sweetie says, “I love you” almost immediately.
- The person claims to be a U.S. citizen who is abroad, and or claims to be well off, or a person of important status.
- The person claims to be a contractor, and needs your help with a business deal.
“What consumers using these dating Web sites fail to recognize, is that they may be working with professional con artists, many who may even be using stolen identities with which to fabricate information they’re giving out," Greenberg said.
Two Tales of ‘Love’ Gone Wrong: Victim Sweethearts
“Susan”
Susan, a consumer who contacted NCL’s Fraud Center, met one such scam artist on a dating Web site. She befriended a man from her Kansas City, MO, hometown, who said he was working as an Engineer in Nigeria. He wooed her for two months – sent her flowers and said, “I love you,” – before he asked her for money. Now, $35,000 later, Susan has taken out a second mortgage on her house to pay off the credit card debt she amassed sending him money.
“Donna”
In April 2007, Donna cautiously ventured into the world of
online dating. Within a week, she was contacted by a man with whom she began to chat. They chatted multiple times a day for seven months. He said he was a wealthy business man, who lived in a nearby city and was temporarily in Africa on business. In October, he said his contract in Africa would soon be up and that he wanted to meet, but he needed $250 to hold him over until a check cleared. Donna offended her new sweetie when she expressed her hesitancy to give money to a stranger. So she sent him the money, and later another $1,500, never to hear from him again.
For more stories of love – and money – lost through Sweetheart
Swindles, contact NCL’s communications department at (202)835-3323, ext 114.
National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. Their mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit
www.nclnet.org.
