Romance or impersonation scams involve scammers pretending to be familiar or trustworthy individuals in your life, using emotional tactics to convince you to send them cryptocurrency.
Social Media Impersonation:
A common approach is impersonating high-profile and famous people with significant social media presence. The scammer creates an account identical to that of the famous person and posts a link or video asking you to send cryptocurrency to a specific website, promising to double your funds through a giveaway. Remember, if someone genuinely wants to give you money, they can do so without requiring you to send them anything. Treat these posts as fake and avoid engaging with them.
Relative Scam:
Another scenario involves scammers pretending to be distant relatives or lawyers, claiming your relative is in legal trouble or jail. If you receive such calls, contact your relative directly to verify the legitimacy. Be cautious if they request payment in cryptocurrency, and research the legal firm, read reviews, and call official phone numbers listed online. It is highly likely to be a scam.
Romance Scams:
Scammers exploit the emotions of love and manipulate you into sending them funds. They can be found on popular dating sites and apps but never want to meet in person. They often claim to be in the military, working overseas, or facing other barriers. Be cautious if they avoid video calls and rely solely on photos. Never share financial details and be wary of sharing personal information that could be used for security questions on banking websites.
Protective Measures:
- Request video calls to verify the person's identity.
- Refrain from sharing financial details or sensitive personal information.
- Watch out for urgency in their requests for information or funds.
- Take your time to evaluate their intentions and legitimacy before making any decisions.