AG: Watch out for ‘sweetheart’ scammers

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – As Valentine’s Day approaches, the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General is warning people to beware of online dating scams that have already cost four Kentuckians nearly $300,000 this year.

The attorney general says, in each case, a “sweetheart scammer” uses legitimate online dating websites Match.com and eHarmony to lure victims into a fake online relationship.

The scammer then plays on the victim’s emotions, convincing them to send thousands of dollars to supposedly help them get out of various types of legal or financial trouble.

In one case, the attorney general says a victim lost more than $12,000 to their sweetheart scammer and even purchased a wedding dress for a supposed February 2019 wedding date.

In 2017, the FBI reported sweetheart scams cost victims in the United States more than $211 million. Veterans and service members are often targeted by sweetheart scammers.

Red Flags of Sweetheart Scammer
• Asks you to leave the official dating or social media site and communicate directly via text, email or online chats.
• Falls in love or befriends quickly.
• Says they are not able to meet in person.
• Claims to have an emergency and needs money to get out of legal or financial trouble.
• Requests money sent using untraceable methods of payment.
• Claims they will pay you back when you meet.

Sweetheart scammers also pretend to be someone they are not by stealing others photos to use on their dating profiles. The attorney general advises conducting a Google image search to detect a scammer who is using another person’s photo.