In the digital age, any form of online interaction comes with risks, and this applies to romantic relationships as well. Unfortunately, the internet is a cesspool of online fraudsters looking to steal people’s data or their money by winning their trust and affection using fake identities.Â
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), romance fraud is a terrifying reality that cost Americans a total of $143 millionOpens a new window in 2019, more than any other consumer fraud type, and cost each victim a whopping $2,600.Â
Letting your guard down when looking for love online is, therefore, a costly risk you should avoid. While you may not mind if someone steals your heart this V-Day, here are some ways to stop anyone from stealing your wallet:
1. Avoid unsolicited offers
Rule number #1 is to disbelieve the notion that someone has fallen in love with you without meeting you even once. Martin Jartelius, CSO at Outpost24, says it’s unlikely that an unknown younger female or male without prior contact with you will initiate contact that leads to a relationship.Â
While shrugging off solicitations is easy, it isn’t easy to say no to someone who starts asking for financial support or money after interacting with you for some time. A lot of scams involve fraudsters winning the trust and affection of people before pulling the punch. Don’t fall for it.
“Ãf you don’t know someone, don’t expose yourself in a manner which you don’t want leaked on the internet. And if you do know someone, preferably do not give them your money. And accept that while someone may initiate a dialogue and long term a relationship from meeting at a discussion forum or other area of shared interests, they do not show up spontaneously looking for your company,†Jartelius adds.
2. Be careful when using new dating apps and websites
There is no limit to how many dating websites and apps scammers can operate to lure as many people into sharing their data and money as possible. Security researchers at Lookout recently discovered over 1,400 dating related malware apps, with payloads ranging from adware to spyware. Fraudsters are also domain-spoofing popular dating websites to lure people into visiting fraudulent websites and fill in their personal information.
“This Valentine’s day users should be on their guard when it comes to following unsolicited links. They should be particularly vigilant when installing apps and submitting personal information. Stick to reputable app stores, avoid downloading apps via received links and consider mobile security to validate the safety of installed apps,†says Tom Davison, Technical Director – International at Lookout.
See More: Safer Internet Day: Tech Leaders Share Tips to Keep Scammers at Bay
3. Avoid using professional devices to find love online
Even if your employer sanctions personal devices for work, it’s best to avoid using IT-approved devices that may contain business-sensitive information to find love. Today’s hackers use sophisticated techniques to lure people into clicking on malicious links, downloading malware-laced files, or sharing personal information via smartphones. It would be a folly to consider oneself immune from all the online scams that have successfully fooled millions worldwide and will continue to do so.
Carl Wearn, head of e-crime at Mimecast, says that the use of professional devices to engage in a romantic relationship has the potential to negatively impact an organization’s cybersecurity strategy, as any use of personal account logins on a work device will increase the potential for compromise of both the employee and their employer’s network.Â
4. Secure your online footprint
There are some simple steps you should take to prevent online scammers from successfully victimizing you:
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- Don’t use the same passwords for multiple online accounts, as hackers often use stolen passwords from one website to log in to other popular websites.
- Avoid posting your Personally Identifiable Information (PII) such as your precise location, phone number, or email address on social media.
- Never use third-party app stores. Most third-party app stores don’t have the kind of malware protections that the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store have.
- Don’t share any information via SMS or email if anyone asks for them by posing as a representative of a company you are dealing with.
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