Latest news with #catfishing
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
This Viral Romance Scam Cost One Man $35K—Don't Fall for It
Online dating is more and more popular these days. Not only is it convenient, but it also offers more available singles than, say, your local coffee shop. While it does make meeting new people quite easy, these platforms also give way to more scammers. And with fake profiles, excessive flattery, or someone asking you for emergency money, it's all too easy to fall into the trap. Luckily, we turned to the experts to share all you need to know about common catfishing romance scams and how to keep yourself safe. What is catfishing and why is it so common in online dating? Though catfishing isn't a new concept, it's certainly rampant in the era of online dating and social media. When you're talking to someone online and something seems a little off, you may be dealing with a catfish. 'Catfishing used to simply refer to people who deceive others into going on a date with them by presenting themselves in a false and favorable way,' says Betsy Chung, PsyD, clinical psychologist and relationship expert at RAW dating app. 'Nowadays, you see people using catfishing to gratify their own sexual desires, meet their emotional needs for a long-term relationship, have an extra-marital affair as retaliation to hurt the victim or even try for financial gain.' One man lost $35K to a catfish posing as a beauty queen Recently, a Belgian man made headlines after traveling over 400 miles to meet Sophie Vouzelaud, a French model, after they had been exchanging correspondence and cultivating a romantic relationship—only the person he was communicating with wasn't Sophie at all. The man, Michel, had been talking with who he thought was the runner-up to Miss France in 2007 for weeks—even providing the scammer with $35,000. When he arrived at Sophie's home, he was met by her husband, who broke the news to him. Though unfortunate, situations like these are all too common, and though this individual fell into the scammer's trap, the signs pointed toward a fishy situation. Here, a look at some of the red flags to look out for. Red flags that may mean you're talking to a romance scammer If it feels like the person you're talking to has stepped out of a fairytale or a dream, it's probably too good to be true. 'Scammers will shower you with flattery, doing everything they can to get on your good side so you feel special and trust them quickly,' says Brooke Keels, PhD, LPC-MHSP, Chief Clinical Officer and LPC-Supervisor at Lighthouse Recovery. 'They might make big promises or say things like, 'I've never felt this way about anyone before,' even if you haven't known each other that long.' Chung adds that if you're having trouble finding the 'human' side to somebody, it's likely that you're talking to just 'parts' of somebody and not the whole person. Here, some easy-to-spot signs you may be talking to a catfish: You've been talking to this person for a while, and you still haven't spoken to them face-to-face (whether via video or in-person). Regardless of the excuses they might give for avoiding a video call, whether it be a broken camera or poor connection, this should be cause for suspicion. Their stories don't seem to add up. Though your judgement might be clouded by the promises they make or the flattering words they use, it's crucial to take a step back and think logically about the big picture. They're always making excuses for things or why they can't meet. Would you pursue a relationship with someone if you had no intention of ever meeting them in person? You divulge a lot more about yourself than they to you. Keeping their story vague allows them to keep up their charade more easily. You can't seem to find any information/profiles about them on the internet. While yes, some people prefer to live life offline, this person should have at least some online trace you can use as a reference. The most common catfishing scams, according to experts Thanks to technology, catfishing scams have changed over time. Still, some common ones include international or military romance scams, Sugar Daddy scams, or someone claiming to be an old connection from high school, explains Terri Orbuch, PhD, relationship expert at Orbuch says the catfisher may search for someone's photo online or come across their information and reach out, claiming that the person is amazing before even meeting. 'Another version of this is if the perpetrator starts by complimenting someone's profile before asking for money to help with a sick child or family member,' she says. Military romance scam One of the most common catfishing romance scams is military romance. 'In this one, the scammer creates a fake profile using pictures of a good-looking person in a military uniform and pretends to be stationed overseas,' says Keels. 'They use the fact that they're 'in the military' to play on people's emotions, saying things like communication is hard because of their job or location, making it easier to trick their target into believing them.' Rich crypto investor scam Another common scam is the rich crypto investor. Keels says that in this case, the scammer acts like a successful cryptocurrency trader or investor, showing off a life of luxury and promising their target they'll get rich, too. It won't be long before they ask for money or personal info, claiming that they need it to invest or transfer funds. The sugar daddy scam is similar as the person catfishing poses as a wealthy person who promises gifts or trips in exchange for affection. However, they manipulate people into giving them money or private information. Celebrity scams As stated earlier, if the situation seems too good to be true, there's a chance it is. While in some instances these sorts of scams include romantic elements, scammers will pose as celebrities and attempt to form bonds with vulnerable, unsuspecting fans and proceed to ask for money for false charities, VIP access and more. These scammers scout out targets by spotting commenters on celebrities' social media posts or followers of a specific star. How to avoid romantic scams According to Orbuch, the best way to avoid getting scammed romantically is to listen to your gut and go slowly. It's also important to research the person you're talking to by checking their online presence, looking into their photos, and spotting any inconsistent or inaccurate information. She also says not to be afraid to ask questions, as it's reasonable to want to know more about the person you're trying to connect with. Another way to avoid a catfish is to video call as much as you can. 'Scammers will often make excuses to avoid showing their face, but if they're the real deal, they'll want to connect in a more personal way,' says Keels. 'If they're always dodging video chats or giving weird reasons for not being able to, that's a huge red flag, and a genuine person will be excited to share that face-to-face connection, even if it's through a screen.' For more ways to protect yourself from scams Watch Out for This New Gmail AI Scam—Here's How to Keep Your Account Safe Consumers Warned About Advent Calendar Scam—Tips to Avoid Being Tricked by 'Too-Good' Deals Beyond the Swipe: SEI Club's Proven Approach to Safe and Authentic Matchmaking Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Romance scams roundup: All of the romance scams you should know to keep your heart and bank safe
Romance scams roundup: All of the romance scams you should know to keep your heart and bank safe It's a sad fact, but true — so many of today's most common scams work by preying on and exploiting trust, and our most human emotions. And that's even more true when it comes to online dating scams and romance scams, which take advantage of victims at their most vulnerable to break hearts and break the bank, too. There's no shame in falling for romance scams — the FTC reports at least 70,000 cases per year, with annual financial losses totaling about $1.3 billion — but there's also no shame in protecting your heart as best you can. If you've met someone new and want to make sure they are who they say they are, try running a quick background check before things get serious. Online dating can be scary enough as it is; Spokeo shares these common romance scams to keep an eye out for so you can focus less on heartbreak and more on feeling the love. Catfishing: Not Romantic At All While not all online dating scams are catfishing, the vast majority of them certainly are. Catfishing is the sketchy practice of hiding behind a fake online persona to mislead someone, and it's most commonly associated with two things: exploiting romantic interests and scamming people out of their money. In the case of catfishing romance scams, that's a one-two combo. This is where your Tinder scams, Bumble scams, Hinge scams, sliding-into-your-DMs scams, and the like typically fall. In this case, a potential romantic interest appears, complete with a fake profile, fake pics, and a fake (but often convincing) backstory. After a flirtation that can last anywhere from minutes to months, the catfisher comes for your money. That's usually when the scam goes from catfishing to catphishing, where phishing is the act of fooling you into divulging your private information (like passwords or bank account numbers) in order to target your finances. While that's the basic format of many online dating scams, catfishing-based romance scams come in a wide variety of flavors. And none of them are any good. Military Romance Scams Catfishing romance scammers might cook up an entirely fictional online persona, or even an AI-generated one, or they might appropriate pics and details from an existing, real-world person. In any case, one of their favorite types of people to impersonate is military personnel. For grifters, a faux military profile accomplishes a lot. It can easily appeal to the victim's empathy, plus it offers plenty of excuses for why they never can seem to meet in person (a hallmark of catfish) or why a long-distance relationship is more convenient. When the time comes to get money out of the victim — a process that can go on for months — the military-themed scammer commonly uses excuses like paying for internet, retirement planning or travel costs (none of which are expenses for people enlisted in real life). Oil Rig Scams This catfishing theme is very similar to military romance scams: Long story short, it's convenient for scammers to claim to be an oil rigger or someone of a similar occupation who likely works in a remote locale, doesn't have regular internet access, and has to travel for long periods. These types of rugged, dangerous occupations are also ripe for making monetary requests under the guise of medical and travel expenses. Similarly, faux lovers claiming to be international workers use the guise to ask for money to travel to you, or to get their goods through customs. Take one guess as to where that money actually ends up. Steamier Scammers Some catfishing-based romance scams really emphasize the romance. For instance, in one especially sneaky type of hustle, the con artist poses as a sugar mama or sugar daddy. It's common for these scammers to promise money in exchange for risque pics, which they can then use as ammunition for blackmail. Or, they might do a variation of an age-old scam where they pay you a large amount of money, and then ask for some back — sure enough, the money you've received is typically from a bum source, like a stolen credit card, so the funds will bounce, leaving you holding the bag. Scammers posing as widows or widowers are also all too common. Like military romance scams, these follow the traditional catfishing-to-catphishing pipeline, but they emphasize a particularly common element of online dating scams: they often involve a sob story to help motivate victims to reach into their pockets. Not Catfish, But Still Fishy Not all romance scams revolve around catfishing. Unfortunately, you'll find that scammers are a pretty creative lot. Wish we saw that same energy when it came to first date ideas from real people on dating apps, but in any case, be wary of these common types of online dating scams: Crypto Scams Because it's so difficult to trace, crypto can be a big red flag when it comes to online scams in general. In this instance, the fake bae gains your trust, then convinces you to invest in what they pitch as a surefire crypto deal. The twist is, the crypto app they're so excited about is often a bespoke (and very fake) app they've created to funnel your funds. Of course, sometimes they'll just take your money via a straight-up Zelle or wire transfer. Bogus Dating Sites Similar to creating a phony crypto app to funnel money right into their own bank account, it's not below romance scammers to create entire dating websites just to hustle unsuspecting romantics. These sham sites pump up your confidence by plying you with matches, but beware of sign-up processes that ask a suspicious amount of finance-related questions or want you to divulge things that could be used to commit identity theft, like answers to common security questions ('what was the name of your first pet?'). Otherwise, fraudulent dating sites might take your money by asking you to pay for perks while matching you with nothing but bots. Or they might keep it simple and just infect your device with phishing malware, or take your credit card info. On the latter note, some romance scams simply rely on tricking you into clicking a link to infectious malware, and that link can be delivered anywhere, from Tinder scams to Bumble scams to DM, text, or email scams. Verification Scams This one's a bit different from the other online dating scams covered here. In a verification scam, criminals will pose as official communications channels for popular dating apps (this is also often called spoofing). You might get a message claiming to be from Tinder, for example, asking you to click a link to 'verify your account,' which requires you to input private information, like passwords, social security numbers, or financial data. As you may have guessed, that info isn't going to Tinder, it's going to creepy phishers. Remember, this online dating scam isn't limited to Tinder. Scammers will adopt the guise and branding of whatever's popular at the time, so it could be a Hinge scam, a Bumble scam, a Coffee Meets Bagel scam — you get the idea. Better Safe Than Heartbroken Love really is a battlefield, but you don't have to storm the beaches unarmed. While it's clear that romance scams come in as many varieties as there are phish in the sea, keep an eye out for these red flags to protect your heart: An unwillingness to meet in person or to take video calls. A little too much emphasis on keeping things private. 'Love bombing,' or bombarding you with compliments and affection, or accelerating the relationship at warp speed right from the jump — this is a tactic to gain your trust and confidence, and to exploit your vulnerability. Inconsistencies in your match's story, or consistently evading questions. Photos that look too polished or AI-generated, or that seem stolen (try a reverse Google Image search and see if any hits come up). Fairy tale romances that seem too good to be true. Any and all asks for money or private information from any person (or bot) you've never met in the real world. When those red flags add up, act quickly to block and report the scammer on whatever platform you're on, and contact your bank ASAP if any money has begun changing hands. You can also head to to report scams — or better yet, avoid divulging funds or private info to online strangers in the first place. Frequently Asked Questions If you're still curious about romance scams, you're not alone. Some of the most commonly searched questions for romance scams include: Will a romance scammer talk on the phone? Typically, no. Catfishers will make a variety of excuses to avoid meeting in person, talking on the phone, or video chatting, often kicking the can down the road indefinitely. In the rare circumstance in which they do give you a call, try running their digits through a reverse phone lookup to see if they really are who they claim to be. If they don't ask for private information like your bank account or credit card numbers, passwords, or other personally identifying info, they might ask for money directly. Asking for crypto investments, wire transfers, or peer-to-peer payments are also massive romance scam red flags. What are common romance scammer phrases? Romance scammers will say anything to get you to trust them — and, in some cases, fall in love with them — as quickly as possible. Some romance scammer favorites include, 'I feel like I've known you forever,' 'you're the only one who understands me,' 'I can't wait to start a life with you,' and 'I've never felt this way about anyone else.' Basically, it's a love-bombing vibe. All's fair in love and war, but romance scammers throw the concept of 'fair' right out the window. Level the playing field. This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Catfish scam sees Belgian lose £26K and driving 500 miles across Europe to meet French model believing she was his 'future wife'
A Belgian man who drove almost 500 miles to meet his 'future wife' for the first time faced huge disappointment when he finally came face-to-face with the woman he'd fallen for online. In an Instagram video translated by the New York Post, a man named Michel revealed he drove 472 miles across the border to France to meet model and former beauty pageant contestant Sophie Vouzelaud, 38. The clip documented him arriving at Sophie's door - but instead of getting his fairytale ending, he was met by the model's actual husband, Fabien Boutamine. The Miss France 2007 runner-up, who is currently pregnant, denied knowing the stranger, prompting her shocked husband to say to him: 'Well, I'm the current one [her husband]. There's going to be a confrontation'. Michel claimed that he believed he was going to wed Sophie and that he had previously sent a whopping $35,000 (£26,000) to a woman who he believed to be the model. 'I have to film because there's a guy who just rang my doorbell, and he says "I'm the future husband of Sophie Vouzelaud"', said Fabian. 'Well, I'm the current one. There's going to be a confrontation' he continued. It appears the reality of the situation then dawned on Michel - whose face was never revealed during the video - when he emotionally admitted that something wasn't quite right. 'I think she played a dirty trick on me' he added. Fabian appeared resigned to the fact that another potential suitor had been scammed online. 'My wife, no, it's the fake accounts, you have to be very careful' he warned the stranger. 'I'm sorry, sir, but the problem is that Sophie puts a lot of videos on [social media] networks to say to be careful not to get hurt'. The shock factor was ramped up a notch when Michel confessed he had wired $35,000 to the suspected imposter who alleged she was pregnant and had later lost her baby. Michel also brought out his phone which purported to prove text message exchanges between himself and the fake Sophie. The exchanges seemed to touch the expectant mother, who could be heard saying, 'this hurts my heart'. 'You must keep all the evidence and take it to the police' she added. Sophie, who boasts 296,000 followers, shared the bizarre video on her Instagram page along with a caption detailing how 'sorry' she felt for Michel. 'I feel so sorry for this man' she wrote. 'Watch out for fake accounts, I'm sharing this video to show you it's real and to be vigilant! Take care of yourself'. The digital era has made it easier than ever for scammers to take advantage of unwitting victims. In May, a woman reached out for help after discovering her mother might be falling head over heels for a fake Owen Wilson. The unnamed woman shared her concerns on US forum Reddit, along with an alleged video of the Hollywood star, 56, telling her mum she is an 'amazing woman'. The poster said she tried to convince her mum that it was the workings of artificial intelligence after finding a 'plethora of red flags' such as the man mainly contacting her mother via WhatsApp voice calls. In the clip, the purported Wedding Crashers actor - who in real life was busy shooting his latest action thriller Runner in Australia - appeared to be the result of sophisticated computer graphics; most notably given away by static eye movements and a grainy facial complexion. The woman said her and her sister had tried tirelessly to inform their mother it was a grand 'scam' but lamented that 'she's just not hearing us'. After reading her plight, many users agreed that it was indeed a hoax, with one person shockingly advising the siblings to create their own AI Owen Wilson and siphon money from her to prove it. According to her mother, the odd pairing came about after a chance meeting at Yahtzee with some friends. Though the exact location was withheld, the poster said the man claimed to have mistaken her mother for someone he knew in 'real life' when he saw her at the dice game. She then explained that the two only spoke by WhatsApp, voice calls and FaceTime, which installed doubts over the genuinity of their relations. She concluded her post by asking fellow users for advice 'to definitively prove to her [mother] this is a scam'. One viewer immediately noticed the actor's 'robotic' nature, writing: 'Wow that's scary, you can tell the tone is off and robotic. Face also looks slightly different than Owen but wow that's crazy for someone who wouldn't know any better.' 'His nose and eyes are also... not human lol,' chimed another. 'Tell her to watch his nose lol,' said one person.
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
Lovestruck man travels 500 miles to meet beauty queen ‘he believed was his ‘future wife'… to be greeted by her husband
A LOVESTRUCK man travelled nearly 500 miles to meet a beauty queen he had been talking to online - only to be greeted by her husband. Unlucky Belgian man Michel had turned up at Sophie Vouzeland's home in Saint-Julien, France, and announced he was her "future husband". 6 6 6 But Sophie's actual husband Fabien emerged from the home and quipped: "Well, I'm the current one." Stunning Sophie is a former Miss Limousin and 2007 Miss France runner-up. She boasts nearly 300,000 followers on Instagram alone and often posts her life on social media. 76-year-old Michel thought he had been speaking on WhatsApp to the beauty queen for weeks - and had even transferred an eye-watering £25,000 which he thought was just a loan. Michel is heard saying: "I think she played a dirty trick on me." The shocked man then shows Sophie's husband the many messages he and, who he thought was the French model, had exchanged. Fabien responded: "My wife, no, it's the fake accounts. "You have to be very careful." It didn't take long before Michel realised he had sadly been scammed, telling the couple: "I am an imbecile." Husband Fabien videoed some of the exchange and posted it to social media where it has garnered thousands of views. My boy, 14, thought he was innocently flirting with a girl online – 35-minutes later he was dead He also wrote a warning on the post about the dangers of romance scams. This is where someone is deceived into sending cash to a criminal who convinces them they're in an actual relationship. Fabien said in the post: "I feel so sorry for this man. "Watch out for fake accounts, I'm sharing this video to show you it's real and to be vigilant! Take care of yourself." Belgian man Michel is thought to be a widower of four years and was looking for love - but was heinously scammed. Sophie urged the deceived man to go to the cops to lodge a complaint. It remains unclear whether he has or not. The beauty queen expressed her sympathy for Michel and said the incident "hurts my heart". 6
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Belgian man crushed after driving nearly 500 miles to meet French model he believed was his 'future wife'
A Belgian man who drove nearly 500 miles to meet his future wife was stunned to find out the French model, and her husband, had no idea who he was. After driving 472 miles to meet Sophie Vouzelaud at her home, the man, who identified himself as Michel, was met by the 38-year-old's husband, Fabien Boutamine. "I have to film because there's a guy who just rang my doorbell, and he says 'I'm the future husband of Sophie Vouzelaud'," Boutamine said in a video he filmed during the get together. "Well, I'm the current one. There's going to be a confrontation." How Sim Swapping Led To A $1.8M Cyber Fraud Case After some cringeworthy back and forth, Michel admitted to Boutamine something might be "wrong." "I think she played a dirty trick on me," Michel could be heard saying in the distance. Read On The Fox News App "My wife, no, it's the fake accounts," Boutamine replied. "You have to be very careful." Fake Venmo Accounts Are Stealing Donations From Real Charities Michel explained he had sent $35,000 to someone posing online as Vouzelaud, former Miss Limousin and Miss France 2007 first runner-up. A bewildered and emotional Michel added that the scammer told him she had been pregnant, but later lost her baby. "No she's still there, luckily for us," Boutamine said. "I'm sorry sir … but the problem is that Sophie puts a lot of videos on [social media] networks to say to be careful not to get hurt." Elon Musk Scam Tricks Victims On Facebook With Tesla Hoax Vouzelaud later joined the men to clear up the heartbreaking misunderstanding, saying "this hurts my heart." "You must keep all the evidence and take it to the police," she cautioned Michel. It is unclear if a police report was filed following the romance scam, though Boutamine's video, which he posted to social media, garnered nearly 11,000 likes on Instagram. "I feel so sorry for this man…," Boutamine wrote in the caption. "Watch out for fake accounts, I'm sharing this video to show you it's real and to be vigilant! Take care of yourself." Boutamine and Vouzelaud did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. Fox News Digital's Sophia Compton and Jasmine Baehr contributed to this article source: Belgian man crushed after driving nearly 500 miles to meet French model he believed was his 'future wife' Solve the daily Crossword
