Bogus Romantic Schemes
When seniors are looking for love, they are more vulnerable than they probably realize. This particular con can develop over time with phone calls and texts. Social media offers so much information about people that it is no surprise that an imposter posing as an old school friend might call up to start the seduction process. Once the scam artist has established some trust over time, then that is when they feel confident enough to ask for money.
The criminal might ask for travel money so they can visit. This is a common request that is frequently used. Kiplinger reports that a request for money to pay medical bills is another common scenario. While this particular con may take more time than some of the other scams mentioned above, it can be worth the extra time investment to the fraudster. It is not uncommon for a con artist to exploit their victim to the tune of thousands of dollars. In the worst case scenarios, victims lose tens of thousands of dollars or even more. Sadly, the combination of feeling love or affection for another person renders people vulnerable.
Online dating sites make for fertile ground for this type of scheme, with a virtual list of lonely people hoping to find that special person. With so many speciality dating sites established for older people, a fraudster with bad intentions can quickly identify likely targets. While the concept of a gigolo who offers sexual favors in exchange for pay is not new, this type of romantic con job is not straightforward or exclusive to a male exploiting a female. Men can also be tricked into providing money to a female for a trip that will never happen or to pay phony medical bills.
