Tinder Love Scam: Here’s What Happened
After being matched, they kept in touch through WhatsApp and started dating online. The victim was then persuaded to open an account on a fake trading website and invest digital money there. Police said that from March 6 to March 23, he was persuaded to transfer HK$14.2 million to nine different bank accounts in 22 separate transactions.
The victim discovered it was a scam when he could not get his money and “profits” back. Then late last month she called the police for help. The report noted that the case was labeled “obtaining property by fraud”, an offense that can lead to up to 10 years in prison under the Theft Ordinance.
Love Scams On Rise: How To Stay Safe
Police say these fake investment websites or apps showed rising prices and returns for cryptocurrencies or stocks, but the information was fake and controlled by criminals. The report quoted sources as saying that the positive returns on these investment accounts were meant to motivate people to invest more money.
Online scammers usually pretend to be businessmen or professionals in sectors such as banking, engineering or the military. They try to charm their victims before demanding money for various reasons.
If you find someone online that you match with, and you both think you’d make a great match, Here’s what you need to do:
- Research the person’s photo and profile.
- Ask questions. If someone seems too good to be true, there is a strong possibility that they are not who they say they are.
- Be wary if you are asked for sensitive financial information or inappropriate images. It’s not a good idea to send money to someone you’ve only interacted with virtually and not in person.
- Be aware of the person if they repeatedly miss opportunities to meet and always provide an explanation for their absence.
