GOOGLE has warned users over a dangerous scam that empties your bank.
It preys on your deepest desires and emotional vulnerability to loot your accounts.
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Billions of phone owners are being urged to check their messages for the warning signs that they’re already a victim.
The con in question is a romance scam – a cruel scheme where someone woos you online to steal your money.
“A scammer may create an online post or reach out to you directly,” Google warned.
“They may make promises about starting a romantic relationship, and suggest that they need money to get out of a bad situation or travel to you, for example.
“Then, if you pay, the scammer may either disappear or continue to request money.”
Look out for these red flags in your chat app inbox – you may already be a target.
These scams are designed to lower your defences.
A scammer may use their real name and face to get your money.
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But they may also “catfish” you with a fake persona, using real photos of someone else – or even AI-generated snaps.
That means they can cater their looks and interests to your own personal tastes.
It also makes it extremely difficult to track down the person who scammed you.
“Often, scammers try to get you to act fast, without thinking,” Google explained.
“To avoid the majority of scams, transact only with people you know well and trust.”
Google advised against transferring money to strangers online – even if they seem trustworthy.
Scammers are increasingly sophisticated and can create extremely convincing online personas.
If you send money to a scammer, it can be extremely difficult and sometimes impossible to get it back.
So it’s always best to be extremely cautious before making any online money transfer, according to Google.
Featured Image Credit: Google / Unsplash / The U.S. Sun
