Consumer Alert
What to do if your online love interest offers to teach you how to invest your money
No one thinks their online love interest is going to scam them, but scammers are good at what they do. They establish an emotional connection with you so you’re more likely to believe that they’re an expert in cryptocurrency investing, for example. But that online love interest is a scammer. People have lost tens of thousands ― sometimes millions — of dollars to romance scammers.
This all starts with someone contacting you — seemingly at random — on social media. But they’ve done their homework, checking out your profile and other information on the platform. That helps them say the right things to build a relationship…and before you know it, your new friend is talking money. They want to help you invest your money in the crypto markets, or they say they can teach you how to do it. You might think they have your financial well-being in mind, but they don’t. They only care about their own financial well-being.
No matter what they say, if someone you meet online says they want to help you invest in cryptocurrency, it’s an investment scam. Know this:
- Scammers promise big profits. They might say they’ve made money this way before and that you will too, but it’s a lie. No one can guarantee profits in any investment.
- Scammers say there’s no risk. But all investments have risks, including investments in the crypto markets.
- Scammers say they can help you learn to invest. They’ll say they can teach you investment tricks, but they’re really leading you to a scam investment opportunity. You will lose the money you “invest.”
- Scammers tell you how to send the money. Scammers want your money quickly, so they’ll steer you to gift cards, payment apps like Apple Pay, CashApp, PayPal, and Zelle, money wiring companies, or even cryptocurrency. But only scammers insist you send money this way.
If you think someone you met on social media is a scammer, cut off contact. Tell the social media platform, and then tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Share this post in your socials to alert your followers of this scam.
I met a man online who turned out to have Narcissistic Personality Disorder. He brainwashed me into falling in love with him, and I sent him money and gifts for 20 months. He was not the kind of Romance Scammer you are referring to here, but a different type of Love Scammer.
Thank you for warning people about these types of Online Scammers. We all need to learn everything we can, in order to protect ourselves!!
Thank You for this information
Finally a reliable source to show Grams if she ever joins online dating🙃
Thank you ❤️
Why nobody put ads about scsmnrts ahead if their action . That helps if ftc fbi interpol pits out warning daily online before somebody getvl scamed its too late.
I tell everyone, “If it sounds too good to be true, it is a scam”.
Beware all they want is your money. You worked hard for it, don’t give it away unless YOU want to.
This happened to a friend of mine. Before I heard about his "friend" she had convinced him to "invest" his entire savings. He introduced (on Whatsapp) her to me. She tried to get me to participate in her "passive income" gold buy and sell scam.
I finally got through to my friend by using an app that searches out photos on the dark web. This "nice lady" was using different names, had photos of her in some immodest poses and worse.
When he tried to get some of his money back the fake cryptocurrency app wanted him to pay the "taxes" to the app before it would release his money. His nice lady friend became hostile when he asked her for help.
He's now broke and broken hearted.
In reply to This happened to a friend of… by Janet
This is happening to to a friend of mine he said he met this lady one a few weeks ago and she teaching him how to buy gold and sell in trade market and invite him to Los Angeles to teach him though and I told him is a scam before I know he invest his first investment and she sent $70 as a profit and now he's investing more and happy that his financial is about to change and the woman is showing model car and luxury life living I feel pitty for him though
I am certain neither the Govt nor any Federal/State Agency has any interest in the Financial Well Being of its Citizens. Why do I say this? If the intent is clear then I would expect the least any serious Govt should do is to inform of the Public of the dirty sites milking its Citizens. Lo and behold I have searched the internet and also some AI chat sites including the Financial watchdogs whose duty is to alert of financial irregularities, but no where did I see any list of problem sites. This can only happen intentionally not otherwise. There is a nexus between all these agencies to gang up against the Citizens leaving them with no aid to recourse.
We are in a dire state of Financial manipulations. Too many agencies are conniving together to strip us all of what little we make and distribute it for all kinds of inexplicable deeds. Sad!
In reply to I am certain neither the… by Murali
Your argument is not logical. The government agencies are not conniving together. How could they possibly have a list of every site? They are illegal sites and changing all the time. These government agencies are obviously there to help and are do so by posting information about warning signs and how to protect yourself all over the place and how to get help. Your conspiracy theories are only hurting yourself.
In reply to I am certain neither the… by Murali
Simmer down. Breathe.
I'd rather offer productive suggestions than blast you for your beliefs. I know it's hard when the walls of society are closing in on you, but hear me out.
Put your phone down (or turn off your computer), go outside (ask for help if you can't easily do this), and take a short walk/scooter ride. Just breathe and look at nature. Really try to watch it enough to get totally distracted.
I promise, the world will seem a little less out to get you. You are a part of nature, and nature does NOT care about the machinations of mankind. Even if what you say is true, WE are gonna keep operating and making the world go around. Ignore it. I hope this helps. 🤞🤜🤛
I was contacted through Facebook. The woman claimed an interest inOUR future. And that she can teach me how to do short term cryptocurrency trading. Started with a few thousand dollars. Then pressured to add more money to trading account to get bigger profits. At end of trading cycle MetaMask said I needed to pay 162K in short term capital gains tax TO THEM. The funds are frozen including the 204K that I put into the trade account.
In reply to I was contacted through… by Jerry Hoffman
Did you get any help on this?
In reply to I was contacted through… by Jerry Hoffman
Did you pay the taxes on this? What happens to your frozen profit, is it still just sitting there? I’m having the same scammed issues and I’ve already lost so much money.
In reply to I was contacted through… by Jerry Hoffman
So did you pay the tax? I think I’m being scammed the same way. I’ve lost so much money I cannot even imagine how to pay this back.
Someone I know fell for this exact scheme. I provided all the info I know, please investigate and bring justice.
Why do they contact you on one message site and then want to continue conversations on Whatsapp?
In reply to Why do they contact you on… by Joe
I think it’s because what’s app has end to end encryption.. it’s harder for them to get caught.. that was one of the red flags for me when I was being wooed online by someone who wanted me to invest in crypto currency.. he was very reluctant to talk on the phone for more than a few minutes.. but sent a lot of texts on that site.
Victim of the scam scheme has done everything possible to report this crime. Complaints were filed with every agency and yet, zero responses. Victim walked into his local precinct to try to file a report and was turned away. What protection or resources are there for victims of investment scams? Through an extensive, there are virtually none. Victim has been drained of his entire savings and is heavily indebted, has a family to support. There is no help out there.