Dating Scams – Beware!

Dating scams reach new heights (or lows), and it is happening internationally. A large number of women from the USA have arrived in London due to dating scams originating from internet scammers located in Africa – often Nigeria and Ghana. The frauds are costing victims millions of pounds.

This is what happens: scammers from Nigeria and Ghana and other African countries create fictitious characters on dating sites all over the world. They use completely false information and photographs. These photos are usually of attractive men. Once they get replies to their profiles, they build up a relationship online until the victim completely trusts them.

They then report some made up situations where they have been in an accident and can’t pay the hospital bills, or they are stranded at some major airport. They then email the victim asking for help with money they require, this can often be up to $2,500. They ask for this to be wired to a bank account where they can withdraw the cash immediately. They then disappear from the dating site and the victim hears no more from them

This form of scam has become very common indeed and the embassy for the USA has put up a video on various video sites giving notice and warning of the scams. The staff at the embassy say they are receiving up to sixty telephone calls a week asking them to help their fictitious new loved one and complaining that they are doing nothing!

There are now reports of women from the UK being targeted by the scammers. Listen to this story of woe:

A woman living in London reported to the Evening Standard that she lost over £10,000 when she was scammed by male on a dating site which specialised in Jewish Dating. The scammer made up a story that he was serving in the US army in the Afghanistan arena and was trying to help one of his compatriot soldiers who had been wounded in battle. After sending the money she never heard another thing despite sending numerous emails. She said she felt embarrassed at being so easily fooled.