The last thing any online dating service user wants is to be scammed. Some phishing schemes are complex, while others need you to just click a strange link in an email to lose money.
It is easier to protect yourself and help others if you act fast. The recovery of stolen money may be impossible, but it extends beyond simply recouping your losses. Here’s what you should do if you become a victim of an online dating scam:
Report the scam ASAP
Contact your banking institution right once if you suspect financial fraud. If you believe your identity has been stolen, contact the credit bureaus immediately. When dating scammers steal your money, they aim to take advantage of you, therefore you should safeguard your account as quickly as possible.
If you feel you have been scammed or see any suspicious behavior on a dating site, follow these steps:
- Inform your bank or credit card company.
- Report the fraudulent activity to the dating site administration.
- Make sure the information is recorded.
Reset the passwords
If you are led to a fraudulent site, update your password immediately at the actual website if you were requested to input your credentials.
Even though using the same login information across several accounts is not advised, many people nonetheless do so. This indicates that all accounts that make use of the same login information need to have their passwords reset. Password hints and security questions may need to be updated as well.
Keep your money and accounts safe
The best protection against scammers is to keep your money and information secure. You may recover from fraud and avoid future scams by doing the following steps:
- Freeze your credit report.
- Put two-factor authentication to use.
- Set up bank account alert notifications.
Do some investigation
During this step, you must carefully examine each record you have for any potential symptoms of compromise and make sure that they are preserved for an adequate length of time.
You should look into any unfamiliar URLs or IP addresses that appear in your firewall logs. Check your DNS logs and your mail server logs for recipients of the phishing email to see who searched for any malicious domains. Take a copy of the phishing email and examine the headers and attachments for information about its nature and intent.
Learn how it works
After recovering from being a victim of online dating fraud and dealing with the consequences of being scammed, become acquainted with the most prevalent forms of scams.
If you know how to recognize scammers and what their warning signs are, you might be able to identify prospective frauds. Keep these precautions in mind to protect yourself while dating online:
- Avoid pushy contacts.
- Don’t share your personal contact information.
- Be cautious of phishing emails.
- Never transfer money to anyone you haven’t met in person.
Keep up with the latest news about scams
Most people make the mistake of thinking, “It couldn’t happen to me.” Even highly qualified specialists may get scammed. Keep up with the newest scams to avoid getting tricked out of your money or to learn more about how to defend yourself. Scammers can’t access your personal information if you don’t safeguard it.
Mobile banking can help you monitor your checking account and notice fraudulent activities fast, but it’s not the only option to keep your account safe.
Future cybersecurity recommendations:
- To help you remember strong, safe passwords, consider a password manager or print off a password organizer. Keep the organizer in a safe place, not near your computer. When feasible, MFA should be used.
- You should steer clear of phishing attacks. People that are attempting to trick you mostly use informal language or presentation in their emails, texts, or communications. The email address of the sender usually has nothing to do with the business that they claim to represent.
- Take routine care of your computer to protect it against scams, such as keeping all software up to date and regularly backing up your hard drive.
- Even if you have only met someone online, exercise extreme caution when disclosing critical information to them and never send them money.