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Scammers are known to blackmail their targets using compromising material.
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The scammer may also claim they want to travel to visit you, but cannot afford it unless you are able to lend them money to cover flights or other travel expenses. For example, they may claim to have a severely ill family member who requires immediate medical attention such as an expensive operation, or they may claim financial hardship due to an unfortunate run of bad luck such as a failed business or mugging in the street. Often the scammer will pretend to need the money for some sort of personal emergency. They may also ask you to send pictures or videos of yourself, possibly of an intimate nature. Once they have gained your trust and your defences are down, they will ask you (either subtly or directly) for money, gifts or your banking/credit card details. Scammers will go to great lengths to gain your interest and trust, such as showering you with loving words, sharing ‘personal information’ and even sending you gifts. They may take months to build what may feel like the romance of a lifetime and may even pretend to book flights to visit you, but never actually come. They often claim to be from Australia or another western country, but travelling or working overseas. They may use a fictional name, or falsely take on the identities of real, trusted people such as military personnel, aid workers or professionals working abroad.ĭating and romance scammers will express strong emotions for you in a relatively short period of time, and will suggest you move the relationship away from the website to a more private channel, such as phone, email or instant messaging. Scammers typically create fake online profiles designed to lure you in. About Scamwatch Expand submenu for "About Scamwatch".News & alerts Expand submenu for "News & alerts".Scam statistics Expand submenu for "Scam statistics".Attempts to gain your personal information.Types of scams Expand submenu for "Types of scams".