Many people use social media and online dating sites every day to meet their special someone. Unfortunately, instead of finding love, some end up being scammed into sending money.

Romance scams occur when fraudsters create fake profiles on dating sites or social media to build trust through an online relationship. They often fabricate elaborate stories to convince you to send money, claiming it's to help them visit you or to rescue them from a difficult situation.

Here are some tips to keep yourself safe:

  • Be cautious about what you post; scammers can use your information against you.
  • Always use reputable websites and remember that fraudsters can target even the most trusted dating and social media sites.
  • If someone asks for money, they’ll usually suggest a payment method that is hard to reverse.
  • Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person!