Scammers will usually hide beneath gorgeous male or female photos, and they will often claim that they reside in the US. The scammer will then start creating a story of how successful his or her life is, be it with business or with the other aspects of life. This scammer will also pretend that they don’t have a family and they are longing to be with someone with whom they can love and care for the rest of their lives. These scammers are definitely good at what they do, and they love to ask random questions with their potential victims. The scammer will use the information so they can start pursuing their victim.
Typically, the scammer’s profile on a dating site is interesting, informative, and attractive. Nothing on their profile is true, and they create huge misconceptions about themselves. The problem here is, it can be challenging to spot a scammer’s profile, not unless you know what the red flags are. Dating site members will usually describe the person that they want to meet. These scammers will use this information so they can easily persuade you.
Scammers are using clever words, and these words come from their usual script, which the copy and paste on each potential victims that they have. The email will have a weird grammar and plenty of misspelled words.
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Here’s a usual email that you can receive from a scammer:
I really would love to get to know as much as i can possibly about you. I have mixed citizenship since my mum is from United Kingdom and day from USA. I was born and grow up in United Kingdom before family decided to go to USA. I am working in Nigeria on a contract as an Information Technology expert. But I plan to be back to USA soon. I married long ago but my wife died due to an illness. Please check some attach photos here on the email. Hope you can send some photos for me. Looking forward from you soon.
Inconsistencies In Their Profiles
- Profile photo seems like its been taken by a professional and can be found on most modeling sites.
- Not proportional height and weight, for instance, they are 6 inches and 85 pounds.
- A scammer will claim to be single, but you can see a ring on their profile photo.
- They pretend to be blonde or someone with blue eyes, but the photo that they are sending you looks different from their description.
- Scammers pretend to be younger or older compared to their look of the photo that they’ve been sending.
- They pretend that they are a Native American, but their photo shows that they are Nigerian.
- After starting a conversation with you, you notice that their profile is no longer available on the dating site.
- A scammer’s age doesn’t seem to have any limit, for instance, 30-70.
- Their profile says that they don’t have kids, don’t drink, nor smoke.
- The profile photos look like it has been cropped and re-uploaded.
- They seem to lack skills when it comes to writing and speaking.
- A scammer often use i instead of the correct I.
- The details that they are giving you are different from what is stated on their profiles.
- Their all name comes from two different first names, for instance, John James, Mark Anthony.
- The above list is not the complete list that scammers come up to because they always create more stories or lies every single day.
Usual Jobs That They Claim To Have
- Businessman
- Self-Employed
- Fashion Model
- Fashion Designer
- Construction Worker
- Mechanical Engineer
- Oil Contractor
- Building Contractor
- Claim to be working overseas
- Soldier or Army
Things To Do When You’ve Communicated With A Scammer
- Immediately stop communicating with the scammer. Start ignoring their phone calls, instant messages, and email. You can also start blocking them in any way possible.
- Contact Western Union or any remittance services if you have sent payment so you can check if the money has been picked up yet or not.
- Copy emails and instant messages so you can report them to different agencies. The receipts should also be used as evidence against them
- Immediately report the scammer to the dating site where you have met them. Report them to the site and even to the police department.
- Contact your bank’s fraud department and create payment arrangement I money or check order has been proven fraudulent.
- Call your bank if you think that the check will turn out as fraudulent.
- Contact your Post Office or local Postal Carrier to not deliver any packages at your work or home. If you receive any money orders and check, bring them back to the Post Office and create a report.
- Call your Post office or postal Carrier if you sent letters or packages to the scammer. Keep them as evidence.
- Contact the companies where you purchase merchandises or gifts and report that they have been obtained using a stolen credit card.
- Immediately contact your local Police Department so they can help you track this scammer.
Once you have been contacted and victimized by a scammer, you will automatically be added on their contact list. You will start getting emails and messages from people you’re not familiar with. These people are scammers who are trying to victimize you again. Let them know that you are aware of their scams and immediately block them.
Take note of the tips above, and you will immediately know if they are a scammer or not. If you keep blocking them, they will eventually stop contacting you.