Romance scams are as old as the human race. The advent of online dating and social media has opened up new avenues for age-old deceptions. People often feel confident that someone can't dupe them, but everybody is potentially susceptible. It is wise to know how to detect an online roman scam. Here are four signals that something might be up with one of your online romantic interests.

Playing the Fast Game

The idea of quickly falling in love with the right person has strong cultural and biological roots. However, the impulse to fall hard and fast also powers basic romantic scams. A person with bad intentions usually wants to convert a victim into a profit center as soon as possible. Consequently, their interest in quick money aligns with the victim's belief that true love will be instantly recognizable.

If someone always hits the accelerator in your interactions, there's a good chance something is amiss. Most people don't openly declare their love to someone they've never met in person, for example. Online scammers, though, want to get the relationship going ASAP so they move forward with their efforts to get money or goods.

Strong Monetary Interest

Money makes the world go round, but that also makes monetary appeals viable as scams. The scammers in these cases always seem to have a reason to need money. Do they want to meet in person? That is great, but they're going to need money for a plane ticket. Some use business angles, while others cite medical emergencies. If the request is something you'd reject from a random person on the street, then you should treat it as an online romance scam.

Inconsistent or Little Information

Scammers don't want too much information pointing to their crimes. Consequently, they often have limited social media profiles. Also, they may tell inconsistent stories about their lives. The most prolific scammers are often running tens or even hundreds of romance scams at a time, and they may struggle to keep their stories straight.

Moving the Conversation from the Dating App

Whenever a scammer thinks they have a lead, they don't want to lose that connection. Unfortunately for them, dating apps are always scanning for suspicious activity. To counteract these efforts, scammers usually want to move the conversation away from the dating app as soon as possible. Frequently, they'll use a different app with a focus on text communication. Also, they often avoid any apps that might reveal their real-world location. 

For more information about romance scams, contact a local professional. 

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