Online romance scams are so common these days, that even if you have not been a victim yourself, it is likely you know someone close who has been one. According to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau in the U.K., almost four thousand people were defrauded by online dating scammers in 2016, with victims losing an average of ten thousand pounds. This figure only reveals a small part of the problem because it only refers to victims who have reported the fraud in the U.K.  Globally, there are many more thousands of victims, many of which never report the crime to the authorities.

Expert private investigators from Russia PI say it is not only important to address this problem based on the number of victims and the economic losses, but to also consider the magnitude of other problems that are derived from romance fraud. Being a victim of a Russian romance scam is bad enough, but unfortunately the consequences can be far more serious than losing your money.

Russian dating fraudsters operate in crime rings that are not only in the romance scam business, but are also involved in many other illegal activities.  When you are dealing with an internet criminal conducting a romance scam, you’re communicating with a criminal, so you can also be a victim of additional and more serious crimes such as blackmail, identity theft, hacking and more.

The following are some of the risks associated to dating fraud in Russia.

Identity theft

Victims of romance scam have often shared a lot of their personal information with the scammers. By the time they find out it has all been a lie, the scammer has already a good portion of personal information, ranging from full name and date of birth, to address, employment, bank information, social security number, medical records, family details, etc. The information obtained can be sold in the black market for the use of other criminals, who will get credit cards issued with this information, or get prescriptions, or will just continue to deceive others with your name.

Money Laundering

This is one of the most serious risks, and one that usually comes unseen. People who have been in communication with someone in Russia through the internet, must be extra careful. Requests for a bank account number to transfer funds are a major red flag. Many people think the risk is to send out money, not to receive it. The problem is you’ll never know where the money comes from, and you could get in real legal trouble for helping money launderers move their money around.

Blackmail

If the victim has provided valuable personal information or photos, it might not be enough to find out that it was all a scam. Criminals will not stop because they were busted, they will just find a new way to get their profits. Many romance scam victims are blackmailed for years, and live terrified that their intimate pictures will ruin their careers, or even that their family will be hurt.

Prevention is the key

Of course not everyone you meet online from Russia is a criminal, but it is important to be able to tell the good from the bad from the beginning. A dating background check investigation in Russia will provide enough evidence to know if you are in contact with someone who is dangerous. Invest in your safety!  Don’t wait until the damage is done.  If you’ve met someone in Russia or the Ukraine, either online or via the Internet, contact a professional to minimize your risk.  While a proper background check or dating background check investigation can be expensive, it is a small investment in your safety, and is much cheaper than being a victim or fraud, scam or identity theft.

Need a person in Russia verified?  Contact our investigation team today!

C. Wright
© 2017 Russia PI™

© Copyright 2017 Russia PI.  All Rights Reserved.  This content is the property of Russia PI, LLC and is protected by United States of America and international copyright laws.