AG Shapiro: “Don’t let scammers take your hard earned money or your heart this Valentine’s Day.”
HARRISBURG — On Valentine’s Day, Attorney General Josh Shapiro is warning Pennsylvanians of love scammers whom entice individuals into online relationships, then ask for the money and scam them. Online relationship scams, popularly known as “catfishing,” are increasingly occurring in Pennsylvania and over the united states of america.
“Scam musicians will always attempting brand new approaches to cheat individuals from their money that is hard-earned, Attorney General Shapiro stated. “These criminals utilize every ruse that is online to have visitors to allow their guard down and take their cash or private information — including tricking them into thinking they truly are in love. We’ve seen Pennsylvanians relationships that are seeking lose a lot more than $100,000 to these catfishing frauds. Don’t let scammers take your hard earned money or your heart this Valentine’s Day.”
Two Pennsylvanians who had been harmed in online love frauds and whom filed complaints using the Attorney General’s Bureau of customer Protection are telling their stories to aid other state residents don’t be harmed.
Peggy Cimorelli, of Skippack, Montgomery County, had been victimized with a relationship scam musician.
“I became interacting by having a man online and over the telephone for 2 and a half years,” Cimorelli stated. “He said he had been a motor vehicle dealer and therefore he traveled a great deal for work. He asked me personally for money for resort rooms, seats and present cards. Fundamentally, he scammed me personally away from a lot more than $49,000. I will be 72 yrs old. I am hoping that sharing my story will help alleviate problems with even one girl like myself from being scammed.”
Another scam that is local, Doris Orta, of Bethlehem, had a certain message for seniors looking for love on the web.
“I am 78 yrs old and alone have been for 26 years,” Orta stated. “The first-time we utilized a dating internet site, we came across an individual who we thought we possibly could trust along with of my own information. He scammed me personally away from $5,300. I will be outraged that someone would benefit from me personally in this way. I thank Attorney General Shapiro in addition to Bureau of customer Protection to take my claim therefore really and upgrading to guard customers like myself.”
Since Attorney General Shapiro took workplace 12 months ago, their Bureau of customer Protection has gotten at the least a dozen complaints associated with romance that is online. The Bureau of customer Protection thinks most victims are too embarrassed and harmed in the future ahead after they’ve been scammed to register complaints, and Attorney General Shapiro is pennsylvanians that are urging contact their Bureau of Consumer Protection to analyze their instances.
“I would like to hear away from you in the event that you’ve been harmed by an on-line love scam,” Attorney General Shapiro stated. “Pennsylvanians who think they’ve been victimized should email us at scams@attorneygeneral.gov or phone my Bureau of customer Protection at 800-441-2555.”
The FBI reports that online love scam victims destroyed $220 
million in 2016, while the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that lots of people fall target to scams that are such 12 months. Numerous scammers claim they truly are out from the nation due to service that is military company, the FTC states.
Attorney General Shapiro plus the Bureau of customer Protection have actually methods for individuals to start thinking about before pursuing relationships online. Be skeptical in the event that individual they meet online:
Attorney General Shapiro cautioned customers to not wire, send or deposit gift or money cards for:
Victims can report a love scammer to your workplace of Attorney General, the internet dating website where you came across, the Federal Trade Commission or the FBI’s online Crime Complaint Center.