Online romance scams are not only a financial fraud, but also a public health crisis that can have devastating consequences for the victims’ mental health. Some of the victims have attempted or committed suicide after losing their life savings and their sense of trust to scammers who pretended to be their romantic partners.
One of them is Norm Jones, a 54-year-old former cybersecurity worker from Silicon Valley, who tried to kill himself in March after realizing that he had been duped out of $250,000 by a woman he met online. He had invested his money in a phony cryptocurrency scheme that she had recommended, and then she disappeared.
“I’d be happy to help just one person in the world never go through what I went through,” he told NBC News.
Jones is not alone. According to the FBI, romance scams are a type of investment scam that use fake online identities to gain victims’ trust and money. Scammers often use cryptocurrency as a way to lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes and to transfer money in an irreversible way.
Romance scams are hard to detect and prevent, as scammers use sophisticated techniques to manipulate and isolate victims from their friends and family. They often claim to be working in the construction industry or the military overseas, and make excuses for not meeting in person. They also promise to marry or visit the victims, but never do.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 23,000 reports of romance scams in 2020, with losses totaling over $600 million. But these numbers may be only a fraction of the actual cases, as many victims are too ashamed or afraid to report their experiences.
“The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. The criminals who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable,” the FBI said on its website.
The emotional and financial impact of romance scams can be devastating for the victims, who often suffer from depression, anxiety, guilt, anger, and low self-esteem. Some of them may also consider or attempt suicide, especially if they have no support system or resources to cope.
“To me, it’s a public health crisis that I don’t think we’re talking about,” said Amy Nofziger, director of victim support for AARP’s Fraud Watch Network. She said that referring victims to suicide hotlines has become “pretty much a daily occurrence” for her organization.
Cybersecurity experts and suicide prevention advocates are raising awareness about this underreported issue and urging victims to seek help. They also advise people to be careful about what they share online and to avoid sending money or personal information to anyone they have not met in person.
“Don’t share personal information – like bank account or credit card numbers, or your Social Security number – with a new love connection. If someone you meet online needs your bank account information to deposit money, they are most likely using your account to carry out other theft and fraud schemes,” the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warned.
Relevant articles:
– Online romance scams are netting millions of dollars — and pushing some to self-harm, NBC News, July 2, 2023
– Romance Scams , FBI, July 1, 2023
– Break up with online romance scams – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, February 11, 2021
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