Safety Tips

1. Trapping victims by creating attractive profiles.

2. Having intimate conversations.

3. Creating crisis situations to extract money.

4. Blackmailing/scamming.

5. Be cautious if a person asks for personal details immediately after contact. Refrain from giving them money.

6. If you encounter any of these stories while talking to a new lover on the internet, there is a good chance that they are scamming you.

a) "I need money to take care of a sick relative."

b) "I need a short-term loan to pay for a flight to visit you."

c) "I need some money to start a business."

d) "I need money for the funeral of my loved one."

e) "I am a military personnel serving overseas and I need some money."

7. Do not share your personal photos with strangers.

8. Refrain from sharing your financial information with strangers.

9. A message to deter scammers - You can either encourage them or deter them. A message to deter scammers is, “I know you are scamming innocent people. A friend of mine was recently arrested for the same crime and is now serving a five-year prison sentence. You should stop doing this so that you don’t suffer the same fate.”

10. Block scammers - This can help you avoid online romance scams.

11. If you suspect something, talk to your family or a friend.

12. If you become a victim of scam, contact your loved ones and law enforcement for help.

13. This network of loved ones and legal aid can help you move forward in life.