Gardaí in Donegal are urging people to be alert to romance fraud.
They say this particular type of fraud is enabled via online dating sites or social media by fraudsters who will provide the victims with well-prepared stories designed to deceive.
Gardaí say the warning signs of a romance fraudster include:
- asking the victim to communicate by instant messaging, text or phone calls rather than messaging through the dating website
- asking for money for various reasons, including travel, moving or medical expenses, starting with low amounts
- no meetings in person take place. The fraudster will present reasons for not meeting, or may arrange to meet and then cancel
- asking for money to be transferred to bank accounts abroad or via money transfer agencies to locations outside of Ireland
People are being encouraged to:
- stop, think and ask yourself: is this person real?
- never share personal or banking details with unknown persons online
- think twice before using a webcam as intimate images can be used for blackmail
- if it sounds like it is too good to be true, it is probably not true
- if in doubt, talk to a family member or a friend.
- if you have been the victim of this type of crime, please report it in confidence at a Garda station.
