RACQ members are urged to stay vigilant against romance scams and understand how to prevent becoming victims.
RACQ Bank continues to see members falling prey to romance scams, often initiated through social media or online dating apps.
The Australian Government’s Scamwatch warns that you should never trust someone you only know online as being who they claim to be.
Scammers can spend years building a victim’s trust, convincing them they are in a genuine relationship before orchestrating a financial scam.
RACQ Manager of Financial Crimes Taleesha Hamilton said scammers typically exploited victims by requesting money for urgent problems once a ‘trust relationship’ had been established.
“The fact that individuals can be persuaded to launder money or hand over funds to someone they’ve only met online underscores how adept scammers are at making victims believe they are in a loving, committed relationship,” Ms Hamilton said.
“Once the money is transferred, the scammer vanishes, leaving the victim with a financial loss that is rarely recovered.”
However, the impact on the victim is not solely financial; it also carries an emotional toll, as the relationship they believed in ends abruptly.
Signs it might be a scam
- Fast-paced romance: The relationship progresses quickly, with the person expressing strong feelings for you early on. They may 'lovebomb' you with frequent messages or calls, making you feel special.
- Switching platforms: The scammer quickly moves the conversation from a social media platform or dating site to a free messaging app like Google Hangouts, WeChat, Line, or WhatsApp.
- Investment offers: Once an emotional connection is established, the scammer may encourage you to invest in various schemes, often cryptocurrency, claiming they will show you how to make 'easy money'.
- Urgent money requests: They might fabricate an emergency, urgently needing your financial help or asking you to set up accounts or transfer funds they provide.
- Secrecy: The scammer may insist that you only trust them and keep your interactions secret, often trying to isolate you from family and friends.
- Avoiding in-person meetings: There are always excuses for why they can’t meet in person or video chat – often claiming to be overseas, in a remote location, or having technical difficulties.
What to do if you’ve been scammed
- Report immediately: Contact your bank or card provider right away to report the scam and request a halt on any transactions.
- Change passwords: Update passwords on all your devices and online accounts, including banking, email, government services, and shopping sites.
- Seek support: IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can assist you in creating a plan to mitigate damage at no cost. Call them at 1800 595 160 or visit their website at idcare.org for more information.
- Report the scam: Once you’ve secured your details, help Scamwatch by reporting the incident at scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam to prevent others from falling victim.
Source: scamwatch.gov.au