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Stralsund woman loses 80,000 euros to love fraudster! How to protect yourself!
A 77-year-old woman from Stralsund fell victim to a romance scam and lost 80,000 euros. Tips for prevention and reporting.
Stralsund woman loses 80,000 euros to love fraudster! How to protect yourself!
In the tranquil Stralsund, Vorpommern-Rügen district, a dramatic case of love fraud has occurred that has moved people's minds and raised warning lights for the authorities. A 77-year-old woman fell for a scammer who posed as a German-English man on Facebook. After several months of contact, the man asked the elderly woman for financial support, claiming to be robbed and sick. The result: the woman transferred 80,000 euros in the belief that she was helping her alleged lover. But the dream of love ended in a ruined landscape of abuse of trust and financial loss, as NDR reports.
The police were called in after the lady concerned became suspicious and finally filed a report. A smart step, because investigators strongly advise not to transfer money to online partners and to carefully check the identity of unknown contacts. It is also advisable to exercise caution when making quick expressions of love or sharing personal information.
Beware of online scammers
What is behind the scams of these fraudsters? According to the Consumer advice center Fake pictures and excessive compliments are common features. Scammers use images of models or soldiers to inspire trust. They often invite the victims to feel compassion with stories about blows of fate.
The situation has worsened not least due to the corona pandemic. More and more people are looking to connect online, which is also driving up the number of scams. Older women are particularly often the target of such schemes. In 2020, over 52,000 cases of online dating scams were reported in the United States, with a total financial loss of $300 million; this shows that this is a global phenomenon.
Safety tips
How can you protect yourself from these scammers? The Kaspersky Resource Center recommends looking for partners exclusively on verified dating platforms and ignoring contact requests from unknown people. A video chat can help to check the authenticity of the other person.
Another most important tip: If you suspect fraud, contact should be broken off immediately. Backups of chat histories and emails can be important in order to take legal action in an emergency. Transfers should also always be carefully considered - once money has been sent, it is usually not possible to get it back.
This warning and the Stralsund woman's experiences serve as a powerful reminder that caution is advised when looking for love on digital paths. Don't give yourself or others any illusions - unfortunately, love scammers are lurking everywhere.