IT security manufacturer explains Love Scam attacks
Many people search the Internet for partners and uses digital dating to find a new love, but not everyone is serious - Love Scam is the keyword. Criminals use dating services, chats and social networks in a targeted manner to make it easier for unsuspecting singles to obtain money or personal documents such as identity papers. The German IT security manufacturer G DATA warns Internet users on Valentine's Day of these love fraud attacks and gives tips for secure online flirts.
"Love Scam is a very perfidious scam that works well from a criminal point of view," explains Eddy Willems, Security Evangelist at G DATA. "The criminals take advantage of the singles' good faith and only let their victims go when they no longer respond to messages. For users, Love Scam can have serious consequences if, for example, the perpetrators use identity papers that have been transmitted for forged identities and crimes. So they should stop chatting immediately if they feel it's all about money or personal information."
Many singles seek their great love on the Internet. In social networks and online dating apps they quickly come into contact with other people who are looking for a new partner.
This is where the Love Scam thing comes in: Via fake user profiles - often with pictures showing a very good-looking woman or a man - the perpetrators make contact with the singles. If the contact gets closer, the perpetrators ask for sums of money, for example to pay for a plane ticket for the alleged meeting or to be able to pay for allegedly necessary medical treatment. If the lovers pay the money, the amount is irretrievably lost.
Often the criminals are also after official documents, e.g. passports or identity cards, and ask for a copy, in order to use these for forgeries.
So that singles in search of great love don't fall for Love Scammer, they should take some advice to heart. The German IT security manufacturer gives tips for safe flirting on the net.