Cyber Love's Illusions
Exposing the Romance Scams of Internet Dating!
Cyber Love's Illusions Media Link
http://www2.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/fbi_warns_romance_scams_on_the_rise/31784/
by Angie Price
Published February 13, 2010
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the FBI has issued a warning on “Romance Scams”. According to Harry Trombitas of the FBI, in the greater Columbus area in the last couple of months, two cases have come to the attention of the FBI bringing an added twist to the more common “Romance Scams”.
They most common reported scam involves online dating. People will chat with each other, become friendly over a period of weeks or even months, never meeting. When the victim lets their guard down, that “special person” will suffer a personal tragedy and need money to pay hospital bills, or they are traveling abroad and get their wallet stolen.
The two recent cases have involved the “special person” needing to travel abroad for business. It was reported that once the person got overseas, in both cases to Nigeria, they were abducted. The kidnapper then calls the victim demanding money or they will kill their “soul mate”.
In one case, the victim wired money to Nigeria before realizing they were scammed. A second victim contacted the FBI before sending money and quickly learned she was about to be scammed.
The FBI encourages the public to never, under any circumstances, send money to someone you have met through an online dating service without having verified the person they are communicating with is a real person.
