Exposing Senior Romance Scams: Protecting Loved Ones from Heartbreak and Fraud

After losing a spouse or dealing with the challenges of aging alone, many seniors in their golden years look for love and companionship in the hopes of finding someone to share their journey with. However, this pursuit of love can lead them right into the clutches of online extortionists conducting senior romance scams.

Also referred to as “sweetheart scams”, this type of online extortion targets the vulnerabilities and trusting nature of the elderly by promising love and devotion in their relationships, only to deceive them emotionally and extort them financially.

The Rise of International Romance Scams Targeting Seniors

Romance scams targeting seniors are on the rise as more and more senior citizens rely on the internet and apps to communicate and look for love. Anonymity in the digital world provides the perfect cover for scammers to victimize these older adults without fear of quick criminal repercussions. While these scammers can conduct their criminal activity from anywhere, the majority of these scams originate from three countries⁽¹⁾:

1. Nigerian Romance Scammers

   Everything about Nigerian scams starts with the “Yahoo Boys,” a term used to describe scammers who operate in Nigeria. These scammers are particularly good at creating fake online personas to lure victims into relationships.
   In 2023, one of these Yahoo Boys, Ifeanyichukwu Festus Obi was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment for his part in these senior romance scams⁽²⁾. A resident of Texas, Obi helped his fellow scammers back in Nigeria launder $1.32 million in proceeds stolen from innocent victims they had scammed in 2019.

2. Romance Scams Originating from the Dominican Republic

   The Dominican Republic has also become a hotbed of senior romance scams typically following a predictable pattern:
   Scammers create relationships with their targets even going too far as to promise marriage to their victims. They then create a string of situations such as health crises or legal troubles in which they “need” money, using desperation to deceive them and take advantage of the goodwill of their victims.

3. Filipino Romance Scams Targeting Senior Men

   Unlike Nigerian and Dominican Romance Scams, most of the romance scams originating from the Philippines target older men from Western countries⁽³⁾, specifically the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

The success of senior romance scams relies heavily on the emotional vulnerabilities of victims, especially those in desperate situations. Victims may be motivated by the desire to improve their lives or find love, and scammers exploit this vulnerability by weaving emotional tales of romance, often leading to perceived marriages.

The Devastating Consequences of Falling Victim to a Romance Scam

Being a victim of a romance scam can be deeply painful, leaving lasting emotional scars. It can also have serious financial and physical consequences. The impact of such an experience often lingers, and it can take years for victims to fully heal from the trauma. Some of the effects they may face include:

• Feelings of Shame and Guilt: Victims often feel embarrassed or ashamed of falling for the scam, which might prevent them from seeking help or sharing their experiences with loved ones.
• Loss of Savings and Retirement Funds: Some victims take out loans, remortgage their homes, or borrow from family members to send to the scammer resulting in years of financial instability and long-term debt.
• Difficulty Rebuilding Relationships: For some victims, the damage caused by the scam can be so severe that they may find it impossible to rebuild meaningful relationships with others

2024 Statistics on Senior Romance Scams

The most recent data from the FBI and the FTC indicate that senior individuals are less likely to report scams ⁽⁴⁾. Both organizations reveal alarming numbers of the quick increase of scams targeting seniors:

• Senior romance scams cost elderly Americans over $3 billion each year.
• Phone scams are the most common form of communication with more than 16,000 complaints reported.

Safety Measures for Seniors Looking to Explore Online Dating

When you are in an online relationship with someone you have not met in person, it’s important to stay cautious and watch for potential red flags. Here are some safety measures you should follow:

• Be careful when sharing photos or personal details such as your full name, address, phone number, and any financial information. This information can be used to dupe or scam you.
• Take your time in getting into a relationship. Spend time getting to know the person and watch for any signs of manipulation such as requests for money, reluctance to meet in person, or inconsistencies in what they communicate.
• Be cautious if someone insists on moving your conversation to private messaging apps or other platforms. Scammers often insist on taking conversations off dating sites to make tracking more difficult for the authorities.
• If you are going to meet someone in person, make a video call with them first so that you can ensure they are who they claim to be and get a better sense of their intentions.
• Let a trusted friend or family member know your plans before you meet anyone in person, including where you are meeting, the name of the person, and the time.

We also invite you to check out our blog for a list of The Most Common Romance Scammer Phrases Used to Manipulate Victims.

Can Law Enforcement or Consumer Protection Agencies Help Victims Recover?

Most romance scammers will only accept payments that are irrevocable, like Bitcoin, bank transfers, gift cards, and payment apps to ensure they can keep their ill-earned revenues. According to the Department of Homeland Security, about 60% of all payments made in cases of senior romance scams are bank transfers and cryptocurrencies ⁽⁵⁾.

Seniors are especially at risk for these scams because they trust the connection they’ve formed with the scammer and want to help the person they think they’re in a relationship with.

Do You Believe Someone You Love Is Being Scammed?

When someone falls victim to a romance scam, their heart is the most affected, and they could never get their money back, especially if they don’t report the crime.

Helping to protect the persons you love from possible financial and emotional harm starts with recognizing and educating them about the warning signs of a romance scam.

Steps Family Members and Caregivers Can Take to Protect Their Loved Ones.

• Discuss with them the dangers of giving out personal information online
• Let them know that they can come to you without judgment if they have any concerns about someone they met online
• Stay involved by regularly checking what they are doing online without being overbearing
• Help them understand safe Internet practices and how to protect themselves from scams
• Put your tech-savvy skills to work with reverse-image searches and simple verifications to see if there are any red flags.

For more information on how to safeguard others, we invite you to read our article, How Do I Report a Romance Scammer

Digital Forensics Can Help

Anyone can fall victim to romance/sweetheart scams, but older people are especially vulnerable. Talk with them about how to stay safe and the warning signals of senior romance scams. And if unfortunately, they are being scammed, remember that the first line of defense is to get their permission to take action against their “fake” partner.

We at Digital Forensics Corp. (DFC) are committed to combating romance scams and supporting victims.

With the victim’s consent, we complete a full digital investigation using cutting-edge forensic methods to collect the appropriate evidence.

We specialize in identity verification for senior romance scams, helping victims verify whether the person they’re communicating with is who they claim to be. If they are found to be a fraud, we can deploy our advanced IP tracking and device fingerprinting services providing victims with the crucial information needed to seek appropriate repercussions. To learn more about your options for protecting your loved ones from being financially and emotionally exploited, contact us at 888.521.1551.

Sources:

1. Primary number of senior romance scams originating from Nigeria, Dominican Republic, and The Philippines – Digital Forensics Corp.
2. Criminal Case of Ifeanyichukwu Festus Obi, – Tarrant County DA: https://devweb65.tarrantcountytx.gov/content/dam/main/Criminal-District-Attorney/news-releases/IfeanyichukwuFestusObiNewsRelease022823.pdf
3. Filipino romance scams targeting elderly men in the U.S. – US Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov/hsi/insider/romance-scams-protect-yourself
4. Stats on Senior Citizens Not Reporting Romance Scams – Federal Trade Commission: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/10/ftc-issues-annual-report-congress-agencys-actions-protect-older-adults
5. Stats on the number of scams requesting digital currency – Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov/hsi/insider/romance-scams-protect-yourself

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER. DIGITAL FORENSICS CORP. IS NOT A LAWFIRM AND DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE OR SERVICES. By viewing posts, the reader understands there is no attorney-client relationship, the post should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney, and readers are urged to consult their own legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning a specific situation.

The information presented in this article is based on sources that are not readily available to the public and may be subject to restrictions or confidentiality. It is intended for informational purposes only.