The Attorney General provides Consumer Alerts to inform the public of unfair, misleading, or deceptive business practices, and to provide information and guidance on other issues of concern. Consumer Alerts are not legal advice, legal authority, or a binding legal opinion from the Department of Attorney General.
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You meet someone special on a dating website or app. Not long after they want to email, call, or message you outside of the app. They tell you it’s true love, but they live far away — maybe for work or because they’re in the military.
The scammers strike up a relationship with you to build trust, sometimes talking or chatting several times a day. Then, they make up a story and ask for money. Maybe it’s for a plane ticket to visit you. Or another type of emergency.
Scammers do these things to pressure to act immediately and give them money. But it’s a scam.
Consumers are often asked to provide exhaustive personal information before they can register with an online dating service. How this information will be handled varies widely between companies.
Most companies keep certain information private while making other details available to other members or even to anyone with internet access.
Tips for protecting your privacy and using online dating services:
Here’s the bottom line: Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven’t met in person.