ROCHESTER, N.Y. — As Valentine’s Day approaches, News10NBC warns against romance scams that can lead to financial loss. In 2024, New Yorkers reported losing $25 million to these scams. People over 50 are more likely to be targeted due to their accumulated wealth.
Romance scammers have even targeted local fans, including Bills Mafia. In 2024, a News10 NBC investigation uncovered a scammer pretended to be Matt Milano online, responding to fan messages from a fake Facebook page. One fan shared that the conversation turned personal with questions like, “How old are you? Are you single? Where do you live?”
An Albany woman fell victim to a scammer impersonating actor Carl Houser from the TV show “Yellowstone.” She was conned out of $70,000 after being romanced for months.
Amy Nofziger, AARP’s senior director of fraud victim support, said, “These scams are built on trust. So it takes a few weeks, months, even years to build that trust with their target.”
“Just last week, I spoke with someone who had $400,000 stolen from them in one of these scams,” Nofziger said.
AARP research found that one in six older adults has lost money in a romance scam or knows someone who has.
Nofziger said, “We know that this crime and all financial crimes are hugely underreported.”
To avoid sweetheart scammers, recognize these red flags: unexpected contact on social media, email, or text message; requests to chat on platforms like Telegram or WhatsApp; flattery; and requests for money through gift cards, peer-to-peer apps, or cryptocurrency.
If victimized, report it first to the platform, then to the New York Attorney General’s office, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, and the Federal Trade Commission. Visit WHEC.com for more information.
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