The cost of romance fraud runs in the billions of dollars every year to the global economy. According to experienced private investigators in Russia, more than half of the cases are never reported due to many reasons, including the victims’ feeling of embarrassment, or the simple fact that online fraudster are extremely difficult to catch. Either way, people continue to be scammed by Russian organized criminals in proportions never seen before.   Internet criminals are finding new and creative ways to blackmail you, steal your identity, or make you fall victim to online romance scams and fraud.

It is a fact of modern life that once you become an internet user, you are automatically a fraud target and as a dating website or social network user even more. Every day there are new alerts of scams taking place in Facebook and other social media sites, so in order to maintain your personal data safe, you have no choice but to be ever more vigilant.  Even if you don’t use social media and online dating sites, experts say you are still at risk if you’re online using email and visiting websites.

Knowing the warning signs and how internet scammers work can help protect you from fraud, as you’ll recognize the red flags and exercise caution when visiting sites and communicating online.

Here are some common approaches used by Russian fraudsters:

1. Financial hardship: We still live in a world where despite the increasing fraud and crime, the majority of people are good and just want to help others. Many of the Russian dating scams start with small requests for money – either as a loan or as a “donation”- to be able to afford primary necessities: food, shelter, healthcare. We all think we can see this one coming, right? The truth is that there are a lot of sophisticated players out there, and they not only know how to get people involved in their game, they will also take as much time they need. Most dating romance scams have been going on for months or even years, were the victim has been providing financial assistance to the fraudster unaware of the real situation. Yes, there are people in Russia as well as in every country, struggling for food or shelter. But before jumping in to rescue anyone, get a dating background check. A background check in Moscow will provide useful information and evidence to confirm the subject is real or not.
2. Promises of joining: The sole idea of meeting in person with the Russian lady of your dreams causes many victims to act before stopping to think about it. Dating scammers know that eventually one or several of their contacts will be willing to send money to pay for a plane ticket, an advanced fee for legal paperwork, visa application, or whatever is needed to get together. It is extremely important to have a firm policy on this; never pay a stranger money up front for anything and if its’ a deal breaker, be prepared to pass on the deal. The U.S. embassy in Moscow has a permanent alert regarding this matter on their website. The first thing you need to do is verify the facts. Once you have enough and reliable information, you´ll be able to make a better and more informed decision.
3. Empathy and friendship: One of the strongest abilities of Russian dating scammers is creating bonds, ant they do it quickly. In the cases of love fraud, beware of those who profess love too soon! The same happens with those who after a few interactions online state they found their best friend forever in you. Many of the victims never sent any money, but instead shared a lot of their personal information with the fraudster. Becoming friends is a way to obtain personal information that will eventually help a scammer steal someone´s identity to commit other types of fraud or crime online.
4. Hacking and personal data: Internet criminals (as well as companies and governments) are fighting to obtain your information and personal data, which can and will be used against you! Be very skeptical opening emails from people you don’t know, and never click on a link you’re not sure about. When visiting websites or communicating with new people online, be very skeptical of requests for your personal data, such as your full name and date of birth, address, place of employment, photos, etc.  The more criminals know about you, the greater your chances you will be a victim!

Not all the Russian people that you will meet online are fraudsters, of course, but getting clear evidence and verifying is your best prevention.  Have you met someone online from Russia?  Speak to one our trained investigators about how to minimize your risk and get the facts.

C. Wright
© 2015 Russia PI™

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