As summer heats up, so do the opportunities for scammers to target unsuspecting individuals looking for romance. With the rise of generative AI and deepfakes, it’s easier than ever for fraudsters to create fake personas and manipulate people into giving them money or sensitive information.

Red Flags to Watch For

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), imposter scams remain the number one reported fraud type for the ninth consecutive year, with consumer losses at a staggering $3.5 billion. To protect yourself from these scammers, be on the lookout for red flags such as someone who insists on moving the conversation away from the original dating app or social media platform, or someone who rushes the romance and confesses their love too quickly.

Other warning signs include someone who makes excuses when you try to see them in person, or someone who introduces a low-key financial pitch. Scammers often use tactics like love bombing to manipulate their victims into giving them money or sensitive information.

Verifying Someone’s Identity

Luckily, there are ways to verify someone’s identity and protect yourself from scammers. You can start by doing a reverse image search of their profile pictures to see if they appear on other websites or social media platforms. You can also audit their LinkedIn profile to see if their career timeline matches what they’ve told you in conversation.

A quick reverse phone lookup can also reveal if the number is attached to a different person or location. By taking these steps, you can help protect yourself from scammers and ensure a safe and enjoyable online dating experience.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.