Don't let online love clear your bank account

With more people of all ages going online, one of the biggest trends is the search for companionship, friendship and even love.
Though there are stories of people finding their true love online, there are even more cases where the person on the other side of the screen is a scammer who is only looking for one thing: Your money.
“We have seen an increase­ in cases where often widowed persons have been scammed to give their money to people they have never seen or met in their life, just because promises of true love have been made online,” says Johnny Truter, Head of Bank Windhoek’s Forensic department.
The scammer starts by seeking out specific profiles of divorced or widowed persons and then befriends them. These dark horse Romeos then start conversing with their victims and gather more and more information.
When the scammer finally has enough details on his target, all of a sudden the issue of money will arise – be it for a new project to finance, a family tragedy like a funeral, a flight ticket or even a holiday to some exotic location. At that stage the victim is in a vulnerable position after having been groomed by flattery, promises and the belief that this is their genuine true love. Online scammers will flatter you endlessly. They will say you’re beautiful or handsome. They will make you feel special.
They may also appeal to your ego: If you’re a man, the picture will be a young, attractive woman who makes it clear she’s attracted to you and wants to meet you. If you’re a woman, the picture will be a good looking guy who tells you that you’re beautiful and that he’s dying to meet you. However, these pictures are usually fake, stolen off the internet.
“On Facebook it’s often difficult to distinguish who is fake and who is real. Always be careful not to befriend total strangers who you know nothing about. Because of the promise of love and companionship, it may seem real but it could have dire consequences on your finances once you start falling for schemes like this. Fraudsters masterly hide behind the veil of anonymity on the internet to their own advantage,” Truter says.
“Cases we have dealt with showed that the money is usually transferred to a foreign account which is immediately cleared out.
“So when online, be extra vigilant to establish who and why a total stranger is contacting you. If you have an inkling or a bad feeling or the promises are just too good to be true, the red flags should be raised. Block and report this person to the site management.” If you believe you are a victim of this type of fraud or being groomed towards it, contact Bank Windhoek’s forensic department at [email protected]