Happy Valentine’s Day! The Salt Lake City FBI has teamed up with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah to deliver a warning about confidence fraud, otherwise known as romance scams. “Romance scams occur when someone believes he or she is in a relationship and is tricked into sending money, personal and financial information, or items of value to the fraudster. This includes any scheme in which the perpetrator preys on the victim’s ‘heartstrings’.” Seniors and vulnerable adults are often targeted. “Criminals create fake profiles, search dating sites, apps, and social media platforms for potential victims,” shares United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins. These criminals manipulate victims into sending money or sharing personal information. According to the most recent FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center report, 201 victims in Utah reported losses of more than $3.6 million dollars in connection with romance scams in 2022. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI are committed to investigating and prosecuting these scams. Always be wary of a stranger reaching out to you online or by text or phone. Share the correspondence with others and if they suspect it is a scam, stop all contact. Learn more about romance scams at fbi.gov.
