On Thursday, August 11, 2022, a woman revealed herself to the police. She came into contact with two men through an online dating platform. They continued to communicate via a messenger on their cell phone, which led to an online romance developing. Ultimately, the woman transferred a five-figure amount to the fraudsters in smaller installments over the past few months. The Ochsenhausen police began the investigation. The officials are now clarifying the exact facts and how much damage actually is.
The police expressly warn against scamming
Be careful with virtual acquaintances. Great love, quick money or a dream job are promised - but behind the tempting offers there is often so-called scamming. The path to the desired happiness often leads to advance payments to fraudsters (scammers).
Love or romance scamming is particularly perfidious and causes great emotional stress for the victims. Scammers are looking for potential victims on online dating sites or social networks. Once contact has been made, they are showered with expressions of love and attention - with the sole aim of taking money out of their pockets.
The virtual partners pretend, for example, to have run into financial difficulties on a business trip to West Africa. Or you need money for an important operation for your child or a relative. Stolen suitcases and passports, unpaid wages or an unpaid hotel bill are also intended to persuade the unsuspecting victim to transfer money. And many do, after all, at this point they are already emotionally dependent on their Internet partner.
When the love scamming victim then runs out of money, the perpetrators transfer money from other crimes through the victim's account. This means that the victims may be recklessly committing money laundering offenses and have to be held liable for it. In the worst case scenario, not only the victim's money but also their real estate and other valuables are gone.
What can I do to protect myself from scammers?
- Do not give out any personal information, bank details or private, intimate photos. These could be misused.
- Contact someone you trust and talk to them about it.
- If you suspect fraud, do some research online using the information you have. Very often the names of the fraudsters are already well known there.
- Enter the name of your Internet acquaintance with the addition “Scammer” into a search engine. The suspicion can often be confirmed there.
How do I behave if I am/have possibly become a victim of love scamming?
- Stop and block all contact immediately and ignore any further attempts to contact them.
- If you suspect that you have been the victim of a crime, contact the police immediately.
Source: Ulm Police Headquarters
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