Protecting your personal information online is critically important, which means familiarizing yourself with the latest ways criminals are looking to target and scam their victims. This Data Privacy Day, we want to caution our community about a commonly reported scam, known as the “romance scam,” and equip you with information you need to prevent it.
The Sheriff’s Department’s Economic Crimes Detail investigates these types of cases and although specific details may vary, the general concept is always the same. Investigator David Wise shared a recent case that highlights how this scam works.
In December 2019, Jazmine began communicating with Scott on social media. Scott portrayed himself to be a successful businessman involved in offshore oil drilling. Scott told Jazmine he was required to travel to exotic locations across the globe and displayed several pictures on his social media profiles as evidence.
After several months of communication via direct message, email, and text message, Jazmine believed she was in a long-distance relationship with Scott. Not long after the dating relationship began, Scott asked Jazmine for money to support his business aspirations. Scott requested the money in the form of gift cards and suggested several deadlines he had to meet, which resulted in the sense of urgency.
Jazmine believed in Scott and began sending him money. After a few additional months, Jazmine and Scott planned to meet face to face; however, the day before they were supposed to meet, Jazmine received an email from Scott stating he was in a traffic accident and sustained severe injuries. Scott sent Jazmine several supporting documents that included large medical bills. When Jazmine became suspicious, she began to receive emails from Scott's physician.
Jazmine ultimately reported this incident to the Sheriff's Department and estimated she sent Scott approximately $250,000. Jazmine said most of the money was paid for from a second mortgage she took out on her home.
“Although financial crimes investigators can retrieve digital evidence in cases like this, suspects in these types of crimes frequently live outside the United States,” said Investigator Wise. “As a result, locating the suspect and recovering lost monies can be difficult. The best way to combat these types of crimes is through a healthy dose of suspicion and curiosity. Scams result from a combination of familiarity, a sense of urgency, and the offer of a return on investment.”
What to look for:
- A sense of urgency
- The offer of a return on an investment
- A request of payment in the form of a gift card, wire transfer or cash when you have never met the requestor.
How to prevent it:
- Talk with trusted friends, family or mentors about the request
- Use Google “reverse image search” feature to check the validity of photos posted to a person’s social media pages
- Speak with a bank manager before initiating any transaction
Investigator Wise points out there are variations of this type of crime, including the IRS tax scam, law enforcement warrant scam, Social Security Number verification scam, and investment opportunity scams.
“Remember, situations involving familiarity, an emotional event or connection, a sense of urgency, and some return combined with nontraditional money exchange, such as gift cards or wire transfers, are almost always fraud,” he said. “Decisions should not be made in isolation.”
