It is now clear that a good number of Nigerians have not learnt anything from the gruesome murder of Cynthia Osokogu.
Osokogu was murdered by friends she met on Facebook. The experience should have been an eye opener for most people, especially ladies, but sadly, we hear 0f increasing cases of people being duped and ladies raped by people they met on social network sites. Some people just don’t want to learn from the downfall of others.
Apparently worried by the growing trend of online dating scam, FBI has taken steps to enlighten people, highlighting factors to watch out for, in order to know a fraudster. According to the FBI, millions of people visit online dating websites every year, hoping to find a companion or a soul mate.
“We want to warn you that criminals use these sites too, looking to turn the lonely and vulnerable into fast money through a variety of scams,” noted the FBI. “These criminals, who also troll social media sites and chat rooms in search of romantic victims
—usually claim to be Americans traveling or working abroad. In reality, they often live overseas.
Their most common targets are women over 40, who are divorced, widowed, and/or disabled, but every age group and demographic is at risk!” The warning continues: “Here’s how the scam usually works. You’re contacted online by someone who appears interested in you.
He or she may have a profile you can read or a picture that is e-mailed to you. For weeks, even months, you may chat back and forth with one another, forming a connection. You may even be sent flowers or other gifts. But ultimately, it’s going to happen—your newfound “friend” is going to ask you for money. “So you send money…but rest assured the requests won’t stop there.
There will be more hardships that only you can help alleviate with your financial gifts. He may also send you checks to cash since he’s out of the country and can’t cash them himself, or he may ask you to forward him a package. “So what really happened?
You were targeted by criminals, probably based on personal information you uploaded on dating or social media sites. The pictures you were sent were most likely phony lifted from other websites.
The profiles are fakes as well, carefully crafted to match your interests. “In addition to losing your money to someone who had no intention of ever visiting you, you may also have unknowingly taken part in a money laundering scheme by cashing phony checks and sending the money overseas and by shipping stolen merchandise (the forwarded package).
“While the FBI and other federal partners work some of these cases
—in particular those with a large number of victims or large dollar losses and/or those involving organized criminal groups
—many are investigated by local and state authorities. We strongly recommend, however, that if you think you’ve been victimized by a dating scam or any other online scam, file a complaint.”
Recognising a scam artist Your online “date” may only be interested in your money if he or she: – Presses you to leave the dating website you met through and to communicate using personal e-mail or instant messaging;
- Professes instant feelings of love;
- Sends you a photograph of himself or herself that looks like something from a glamour magazine;
- Claims to be from the U.S. and is traveling or working overseas;
- Makes plans to visit you, but is then unable to do so because of a tragic event; or
- Asks for money for a variety of reasons (travel, medical emergencies, hotel bills, hospitals bills for child or other relative, visas or other official documents, losses from a financial setback or crime victimization).
“One way to steer clear of these criminals all together is to stick to online dating websites with nationally known reputations.”
FBI
Osokogu was murdered by friends she met on Facebook. The experience should have been an eye opener for most people, especially ladies, but sadly, we hear 0f increasing cases of people being duped and ladies raped by people they met on social network sites. Some people just don’t want to learn from the downfall of others.
Apparently worried by the growing trend of online dating scam, FBI has taken steps to enlighten people, highlighting factors to watch out for, in order to know a fraudster. According to the FBI, millions of people visit online dating websites every year, hoping to find a companion or a soul mate.
“We want to warn you that criminals use these sites too, looking to turn the lonely and vulnerable into fast money through a variety of scams,” noted the FBI. “These criminals, who also troll social media sites and chat rooms in search of romantic victims
—usually claim to be Americans traveling or working abroad. In reality, they often live overseas.
Their most common targets are women over 40, who are divorced, widowed, and/or disabled, but every age group and demographic is at risk!” The warning continues: “Here’s how the scam usually works. You’re contacted online by someone who appears interested in you.
He or she may have a profile you can read or a picture that is e-mailed to you. For weeks, even months, you may chat back and forth with one another, forming a connection. You may even be sent flowers or other gifts. But ultimately, it’s going to happen—your newfound “friend” is going to ask you for money. “So you send money…but rest assured the requests won’t stop there.
There will be more hardships that only you can help alleviate with your financial gifts. He may also send you checks to cash since he’s out of the country and can’t cash them himself, or he may ask you to forward him a package. “So what really happened?
You were targeted by criminals, probably based on personal information you uploaded on dating or social media sites. The pictures you were sent were most likely phony lifted from other websites.
The profiles are fakes as well, carefully crafted to match your interests. “In addition to losing your money to someone who had no intention of ever visiting you, you may also have unknowingly taken part in a money laundering scheme by cashing phony checks and sending the money overseas and by shipping stolen merchandise (the forwarded package).
“While the FBI and other federal partners work some of these cases
—in particular those with a large number of victims or large dollar losses and/or those involving organized criminal groups
—many are investigated by local and state authorities. We strongly recommend, however, that if you think you’ve been victimized by a dating scam or any other online scam, file a complaint.”
Recognising a scam artist Your online “date” may only be interested in your money if he or she: – Presses you to leave the dating website you met through and to communicate using personal e-mail or instant messaging;
- Professes instant feelings of love;
- Sends you a photograph of himself or herself that looks like something from a glamour magazine;
- Claims to be from the U.S. and is traveling or working overseas;
- Makes plans to visit you, but is then unable to do so because of a tragic event; or
- Asks for money for a variety of reasons (travel, medical emergencies, hotel bills, hospitals bills for child or other relative, visas or other official documents, losses from a financial setback or crime victimization).
“One way to steer clear of these criminals all together is to stick to online dating websites with nationally known reputations.”
FBI
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