CK Crime Stoppers Tips to Outsmart Romance Scammers This Valentine’s Day
As Valentine’s Day approaches, CK Crime Stoppers is encouraging residents to celebrate safely by learning how to recognize and avoid romance scams. While February 14 is a time to share love and kindness, it is also a time when fraudsters increase their efforts to exploit emotions for financial gain.
“Valentines Day is a perfect reason to make sure you are spending time with the ones you love. It's also a time to learn how to outsmart a romance scammer and protect yourself and those around you,” said Erica McIntosh. “With the increase in artificial intelligence and access to a wealth of personal information online, scams based on love and emotions are big business for criminals, and people need to know how to stay safe.”
Romance scams often begin on dating websites, social media platforms, or messaging apps. Scammers create convincing profiles, build trust quickly, and then manipulate victims into sending money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or personal information. CK Crime Stoppers is highlighting 10 types of romance scams to watch out for:
The Military Impersonator: Claims to be deployed overseas and unable to access funds, asking for money for travel or emergencies.
The Sudden Emergency: After building trust, they report a medical crisis or urgent situation requiring immediate financial help.
The Investment Opportunity: Encourages victims to invest in cryptocurrency or foreign exchange schemes that are fraudulent.
The Travel Request: Says they want to visit but need money for airfare, visas, or customs fees.
The Gift Card Ask: Requests payment in gift cards, often claiming it is the easiest or safest way to send money.
The Widowed Professional: Presents as a successful businessperson working abroad who suddenly encounters financial trouble.
The Fast-Moving Romance: Professes love quickly and pressures for commitment to build emotional dependency.
The Account Problem: Claims bank accounts are frozen and asks for temporary financial assistance.
The Sextortion Scheme: Requests intimate photos or videos and later threatens to share them unless money is paid.
The Fake Profile Clone: Uses stolen photos and identities to create highly convincing but fraudulent online personas.
CK Crime Stoppers reminds residents that common warning signs include requests for money, pressure to move conversations off reputable platforms, reluctance to meet in person or video chat, and inconsistent stories. Scammers often claim to live far away or work in industries that justify limited communication, such as the military, oil rigs, or international business.
Residents are encouraged to protect themselves by never sending money or financial information to someone they have not met in person. It is also easy to perform a reverse image search through sites such as Google to help determine if profile photos are stolen.
“We highly encourage people to update their privacy settings on social media accounts and be cautious about sharing personal details,” said McIntosh. “Also, make sure to use different passwords for your accounts and never share those passwords.”
If you believe you have been targeted by a romance scam, cease communication immediately and report the incident to police. Preserving screenshots, emails, and transaction records can assist investigators.
Anyone with information about fraud or suspicious activity can contact CK Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit your tip online at www.ckcrimestoppers.ca. Working together, the community can ensure that Valentine’s Day remains a celebration of genuine connection, not criminal deception.
Residents are encouraged to protect themselves by never sending money or financial information to someone they have not met in person. It is also easy to perform a reverse image search through sites such as Google to help determine if profile photos are stolen.
