Feeling lonely on Valentine's? Attorneys have a crypto warning for you

As crypto romance scams, often turned into as so-called "pig butchering," are now among the top cybercrimes, Valentine's Day is a high season for this type of criminal hunting for lonely souls. Here's how not to fall into these traps.

Ahead of the love day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio issued a warning and recommendations on how one can stay safe from romance scams.

"Romance scammers are not looking for love—they are looking for money," warned U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio, urging everyone to slow down, verify identities, and not send money to strangers on the internet.

Romance-focused criminals are looking for their victims not only on dating platforms, but also on social media and messaging apps. After weeks or months building a "connection," they start asking for money for different types of fake emergencies or offering "investment" opportunities.

They will also use fake photos, claim to work overseas in the military, on oil rigs, or in international business, urge you to move conversations to private messaging apps, and be quick to declare love.

Cybernews.com has already reported about a widow in the San Francisco Bay Area who lost almost $1 million to Asia-based scammers who collected her money via a bank in Malaysia. However, the woman was saved by AI from even bigger losses.

Meanwhile, to avoid any losses at all, attorneys gave a list of red flags that might help protect oneself. First, beware if a stranger online whom you have never met declares strong feelings very early in the relationship while also refusing to meet in person and always finding excuses not to do so. Next, you should be cautious if this person constantly needs financial assistance for different types of emergencies and asks for payments in the form of gift cards, cryptoassets, or wire transfers.

Another red flag is constantly changing stories or poor grammar, which might be inconsistent with their claimed background. Also, don't fall for attempts to turn you into a so-called "money mule," meaning that criminals might attempt to send you illicit funds or mysterious packages that would be picked up by someone else.

Therefore, besides the recommendation not to send money to strangers, attorneys have also suggested checking the person's profile photos online by using image search, consulting trusted people before sending funds, and reporting suspicious activity immediately. However, once reported and communication with a potential scammer has been stopped, keep all correspondence and financial records that would help the investigation.

In other words, don't fall for scammers - fall in real love instead.

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