From FBI/ Buffalo Office
Valentine’s Day is just a few days away. Unfortunately, everyone isn’t always looking for love.
This is prime time for romance scams. Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim.
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).
