Rabat – Valentine’s Day is all about love, but not everyone online has good intentions. Scammers on social media are circling around lonely hearts, ready to trick them out of their hard-earned money.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has put out a warning about romance scams.
Criminals use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and fake profiles to lure their victims. They pose as attractive, successful people running a multi-million business or in the military. Then they send many direct messages to users, hoping someone would take the bait.
Once they gain their victim’s trust, they ask for money, claiming they need help with an emergency or offer a fake investment opportunity.
Some red flags to watch out for include profiles that seem too good to be true, like a stunning, glowing person but little presence online outside the platform.
Scammers often profess their love quickly, even if they have never met you in person. They frequently avoid video calls, and if they agree, their face may be blurred or hard to see.
Meta is launching safety tools, but you can also take your own steps to stay safe. Be cautious of unexpected messages and adjust privacy settings to limit who can contact you.
Always verify profiles by doing a reverse image search to check if their pictures are stolen. Also, make sure to protect your digital footprints as scammers use your social media posts to fabricate believable lies.
Remember, there is nothing more romantic than safety first!
