Showing posts with label romance scams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label romance scams. Show all posts
June 15, 2013
Ukraine Romance Scams Revealed: A Checklist to Lower the Risk
















Romance scams and dating scams on the internet seem to be taking over, and the Ukraine is a country with high risk.  In fact, most law enforcement and private investigators agree that the Ukraine is among the highest risk countries in the world for online relationships, even worse than Russia by most standards.  After all, there is big money to be made and criminals are looking to cash in on the profits.  Ukraine private investigators offer some useful information to lower your risk online, and also some easy steps you can take to avoid online dating scams.

According to international investigators based in Kiev, the first thing you should consider is that in internet relationships of any kind are risks that are hard to avoid.  You do not know the person in the real world, and it can be very difficult to determine and verify who is the real person behind the online profile.  Romance scammers around the world can be run by men or women, or even men posing as women.  In the case of Ukraine and Russia, they may be real people and beautiful women, but their intentions may be your pocket book, not moving to be with you.

Once scammers have got your attention, the next step is to gain your trust.  It doesn't take much to get your attention with good looks and great photos.  The rest is where the experienced con artists come in.  They target vulnerable people looking for love, and they know most people looking for love over the internet are people who are hoping for a change.  Ukraine scammers take their time building trust and convincing their victim that they are real and caring.  Once the trust is established, the criminal will move in to steal your money, your identity or even blackmail you.

International background check firms stress the importance of verifying first, rather than later when it is too late.  Use the following checklist to stay safe online when meeting people on social networks and online dating sites, and remember that no site is 100% safe or scam proof.

1) Never share too much information online or with someone you've never met
2) Keep personal data such as date of birth, employer, address, bank accounts private.
3) If something seems too good to be true, remember that is probably is!
4) If you think you have someone real, consult a professional for a background check.
5) Never send money to anyone you've never met or verified by a professional.

Romance scams cost the U.S. over $55M in 2012. Somehow we have to help people from being the next victim. If you know someone involved in online dating, inform them of the risk.

All the best,

S. Birch
© 2013 S. Birch




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March 14, 2013
Turkey Background Checks Prevent Romance Scams













A close friend of mine met someone over a dating website last year. The relationship started great and lasted for almost a year. They wrote back and forth to each other, used Skype and IM to keep contact, and every now and they they’d exchange photographs. They even talked on web cam. My friend, a divorced woman in her early 40’s, was so enthusiastic about her new long distance romance from Turkey, that she made plans to go and visit him in Istanbul, where they had plans to travel around Eastern Europe and get to know each other better.  But, just before the planned trip, unexpected things started to happen.  She got suspicious.  She contacted Wymoo®.

After investigators conduct a background check investigation on the subject, my friend could hardly believe the results.  Fraud?  But, how?  She had talked to this person for almost a year, he didn’t fit the profile, or so she thought.  She never gave him money, but now that she thought about it, she did provide a lot of her personal data.  Once confronted with evidence of fraud, she soon learned that she had been a victim of identity theft.  And, the criminal was now blackmailing her and demanded money.  It was a nightmare situation, and she was at least thankful to learn the truth, so she could cancel her planned trip, and start taking control of her life again.

Turkey romance scams are a growing problem and international investigators say it is perhaps one of the fastest growing countries in the world for fraud, ranking with Malaysia and the UAE. Law enforcement and private investigators say it is essencial to use extra caution when communicating with people in these countries, and understand there is an increase risk online.

All friends had warned her about romance scams, internet fraud and the risks in online dating.  How could this happen to her?  She was smart and skeptical, and careful.  Private investigators say anyone can be a victim.  Victims range from all walks of life, including lawyers, doctors and even police officers.  Internet criminals are good at what they do.  They gain your trust, and then steal your information and/or money.  Victims know the damage can be devastating. 

Romance scams in Turkey are on the rise due to the bad economy and the opportunity that criminals find from making money by scamming victims around the world on the internet.  Also, Turkey doesn’t have the bad reputation that other countries like the Philippines, Nigeria and Ghana have, so alarm bells don’t go off when internet users hear their friend is in Turkey.

When online dating, be safe and contact a professional.  Verify, and then decide. 

All the best,

S. Birch
© 2013 S. Birch
 



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November 27, 2012
Online Dating Scams on the Rise, Background Checks Advised















Dating scams are on the rise, despite the countless warnings on TV and the internet. It seems the more we read and the more we think we are prepared, the more criminals come up with new ways to find victims, and make the internet a more dangerous place.  Even for those who don’t use online dating websites, experts say dating scams can affect anyone on the internet on any social network or online dating website, or any website where people are interacting or emailing.

Victims and professional international investigators report that dating scams are growing increasingly complex.  Among the most common are now military scams where criminals portray themselves as members of the U.S. or British military.  Major sites like Match.com and Facebook are also seeing a rise in scam cases, despite their active effort to warn users about the risk of meeting people online.  Many scammers prefer Facebook because it is free and there are so many potential victims on the network.  Often victims don’t expect to be targeted on Facebook, so this also gives criminal a slight advantage when conducting romance scams there.

For those internet savvy users who like to verify companies and people you meet on the internet, the task is getting more and more difficult.  Internet criminals now commonly steal or use real identities to conduct their fraud, so when victims try to verify, everything checks out.  This works well because of the loss of privacy on the internet. For example, if your profile is on Facebook or any other place on the internet, criminals can search Google to possibly learn about your job, your age, your address (even photos of your home on Google Maps), and so on.  Websites that post bio information on employees are great resources for criminals.  Using publicly available information on the interet, criminals ensure their victims that they are real, and trustworthy.   

Everyone who has a public profile on the internet is susceptible to having their information stolen. The more information you provide or share online, the more pictures of moments you publish, the more of target you become for identity theft, internet crime, romance scams, and more.  In many real world crimes such as rape, assault, robbery, etc, criminals first research their target online to learn more about their home, activities, etc.  Be sure, dating scams are real crimes.

The fun days of sharing your information and photographs with family and friends… and friend of friends… are long gone. A recent report published by Glamour Magazine alerting women to fall for military scams, claims that ONE out of TEN profiles in social media are falsified.

Investigators insist that if you are starting an internet relationship, you should consider a complete background check investigation to verify the information and subject’s identity.

All the best,

S. Birch
© 2012 S. Birch



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September 11, 2012
Dating Background Checks Take On Romance Scams

  • 9/11/2012
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has claimed in recent days that the economy in Europe is looking worse for 2013, with growth estimates lowered down 1.2%, because of companies letting go employees in an attempt to remain in business. Germany, the strongest economy in Europe will remain as it is now, stable but not growing in the coming year.  With unemployment and economies struggling to recover, many internet scammers are doing well, and targeting victims when they least expect it, and when they can least afford it.  More are seeking a way to avoid the risk.

Year after year the world of romance scams is getting stronger.  Internet criminals no longer only operate from developing nations like Russia, Ghana, Nigeria and the Philippines.  Today’s more sophisticated romance scammers may operate from right down the street, in the UK, Canada, Australia or the U.S.  No country is immune from the fraud, although the above countries tend to have the highest concentration of internet criminals conducting internet scams.

It is not only in dating sites that people can find friendship, love or deception.  Facebook in the past couple of years has become a leading source to connect people around the world.  In fact, there are some sites offering applications in the network to connect with possible sweethearts. Whether Match.com or Facebook, the risk of meeting a con artist is a real and present threat.

Experts recommend people looking for love online to stay skeptical and avoid revealing much personal data or private information to anyone they’ve never met in person.  Watch out for red flags and listen to your instinct.  Stay on the sites and communicate there, rather than via your personal email.  If you decide to meet in public, do so in a very public place.  Be skeptical of anyone working or traveling or living overseas, and remember it’s easy to fake a profile or identity online.

Romance scams can be devastating and leave victims in financial and emotional ruin.  For some, the nightmare extends to real life with financial loss, identity theft and more. International private investigators solving internet fraud cases claim that in the past few years, the risk of abducting victims has become part of the modus operandi in West Africa and the Baltic Region. Experts urge all online dating and social networking users to never travel abroad to meet your online partner without first having the subject verified via a professional dating background check.
 
Intuition plays an important part when relating over the internet. If you feel attracted to someone and feel you can meet, do not do so immediately. Give it some considerable time before the first encounter is scheduled. Use an alternative email, Facebook offers email accounts to their users, try it and avoid compromising your personal email. Do not provide strangers with your phone or mobile number. You can try setting up an anonymous Skype account to protect your privacy and make free internet calls to anyone you meet online.  When in doubt, consult a professional.

All the best,

S. Birch
© 2012 S. Birch




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August 25, 2012
How Internet Scams Complicate Online Dating













It is well known by law enforcement and even many internet users that countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Russia, Ukraine and the Philippines are risky countries for online dating. Some people receive requests from dating prospects from these places and basically ignore them. Some others give them benefit of the doubt. Although the location is really a first red flag, though, scammers tend to target people from any countries these days.  With IP address hiding software and proxy servers, a criminal from West Africa or the Philippines may claim and appear to be from the U.S.

Online dating would be simpler if dating sites like Match.com, Cupid.com or e-Harmony, and Facebook would screen their users, but, that is not their business.  There is just no way such sites can properly vet all their users.  It isn’t their business and it is outside their area of expertise.  Besides, it would mean significant charges for subscribers who might not be willing to pay.

Not all people joining dating websites are criminals of course, but unfortunately, romance scammers are a growing threat and have infiltrate most dating and social networking sites.  They can have large numbers of fake accounts in these sites and they are targeting you.  They want your information to be used against you for identity theft, extortion or a romance scam.   Romance scammers are not always individuals.  In some cases, they are criminal groups.

Dating sites say it is virtually impossible to screen all their users, because of the amount of subscriptions they get. Skeptics argue they should find a way to protect their subscribers. Users on the other hand, should be more aware and less naïve. It seems that when the love bug bites, people ignore the risk and throw caution to the wind.  A happy ending is not always the outcome, as scam victims can face serious repercussions, such as financial loss and heartache.

Romance scammers approach their victims knowing they are vulnerable and open to meet anyone and take advantage of the anonymity that the internet provides.  Law enforcement and privacy experts say be careful what you share online, and consider a comprehensive dating background check by a reputable private investigation company to be safe and verify your partner.

Love does not fall from trees, much less over the internet. Users should be skeptical until proving that special someone is who they claim to be.  If you want to be safe, join online dating and social networking sites knowing the risk and protect your private data.  Know that sharing on the internet is now always the smart thing to do.  Be safe consult a professional for advice.

All the best,

S. Birch
© 2012 S. Birch



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