April 29, 2024 at 01:05PM
The FBI warns of fake verification schemes on online dating platforms, leading to costly recurring subscription charges. Fraudsters approach victims on dating apps, enticing them to a seemingly safe verification platform where personal information is gathered. After verification, the victim is redirected to a low-quality dating site and charged monthly. The FBI provides protective measures and urges reporting fraudulent sites to IC3.
From the meeting notes, it’s evident that the FBI has issued a warning about fake verification schemes promoted by fraudsters on online dating platforms. These schemes lead to costly recurring subscription charges and potentially expose victims to identity theft and other malicious activities. The process begins with fraudsters establishing trust with victims on dating apps, directing them to a fake verification platform under the guise of safety. Once the victim provides personal and financial information, they are redirected to a low-quality dating site and incur monthly charges to an unknown business.
The FBI advises several measures to protect against these schemes, including keeping conversations on dating sites with safety features, avoiding sharing personal or financial information with newly-met online contacts, and using single, low-limit credit cards for online subscriptions. They also urge victims to report fraudulent sites to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. This is a serious issue, and it’s important for individuals to be vigilant and cautious when engaging with new contacts on dating platforms.