Dating scams south africa

How many victims of online dating scams are there in South Africa?

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said that the arrests were as a result of ongoing investigations into online dating scams, in which unsuspecting women were targeted and robbed. Seven victims have come forward so far, who together have been conned out of close to R400,000.

What are South Africa’s 20 most common scams?

These are South Africa’s 20 most common scams. 1. My Life Change 24/7 or ‘MLC 24/7’. 2. “Overnight” online brokers. 3. Fake real-estate agents. 4. The deflective deposit – buying online. 5. WhatsApp gifting groups.

What are the most common dating scams in Ghana?

Dating site scams This is the most common type of scam in Ghana. The scammer uses a dating site to find potential victims and then uses a fake profile to carry out the scams. The most common websites used include Match.com, ChristianMingle.com, BabyBoomerPeopleMeet.com, OutTime.com, PlentyofFish.com, eHarmony.com, and Facebook.

How do military dating scammers target US citizens in Africa?

For instance, if the scammer’s target is an American, the scammer will pretend to be a US military man serving in Ghana or another nearby African country. The scammers search for pictures of real US military agents to accompany their dating site profiles.

Are South Africans more likely to fall victim to romance scams?

According to a study done by Techshielder, a technology and online security news website, South Africa is one of 20 countries in the world where people are most likely to fall victim to online romance scams. Techshielder looked at how many reports there were in each country for romance scams.

Are online dating scams on the rise?

As Valentine’s Day approaches, love is in the air — and romance scams are apparently everywhere. According to the FTC, the reports of these online scams have nearly tripled in the past years — in 2020 alone victims lost around $304 million from being swindled by their cyber sweetheart. This just grazes the surface of online dating scams statistics.

What to do if you are a victim of online dating scam?

If you suspect an online relationship is a scam, stop all contact immediately. If you are the victim of a romance scam, file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Be careful what you post and make public online.

How common are romance scams on social media?

About half of all romance scam reports to the FTC since 2019 involve social media, usually on Facebook or Instagram. In the first six months of 2020, victims reported a record high of losing almost $117 million to scams that started on social media. ( FTC, October 2020)

Why do scammers target military members on dating sites?

Scammers often post fake profiles on dating websites to attract service members. If your member responds to one of these profiles, the scammer may make advances to make them feel loved and appreciated.

How to avoid a military scam?

How to Avoid a Military Scam. 1 1. Be On your Guard. The first, and in our opinion most obvious point: be on your guard! If someone is trying to scam you, they are likely to slip up ... 2 2. Keep Your Private Info To Yourself. 3 3. Look Them Up. 4 4. Always Consider The Worst.

How do military romance scams work?

Like traditional romance scams, military romance scams also involve plots to take advantage of innocent and unsuspecting victims. In this case, the victims are made to believe that they’re helping members of the military, whether it’s providing money, gift cards or doing favors for them.

Is your military friend or family member a victim of scams?

Your military friend or family member serves our country with integrity and honor. Unfortunately, there are scammers out there who try to take advantage of that service to cheat them and you. You can help protect your service member against military scams by learning the warning signs of schemes that target those in the military community.