Australians are being warned scammers will be on the prowl this Valentine's Day with a wide-reaching variety of tactics to lure money from pockets.
With new Scamwatch data revealing more than $40 million was lost to romance scams in Australia last year, authorities are advising people be extra vigilant in 2023.
“Distressing romance scam stories are sadly all too common,” The Australian Competitor and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe has said.
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Fake florists and gift websites
Fake online florists are gift websites are known to pop up around Valentine's Day, leaving some buyers shocked and disappointed when an order is never placed.
Some businesses also scam buyers by delivering flowers and gifts that look vastly different to what the person thought they were buying when they looked at the photos and information online.
In New South Wales alone, more than 230 complaints have been made to the consumer watchdog about florists since 2021, with issues centering around the quality of items and flowers delivered and items not living up to expectations.
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This Valentine's Day NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Natasha Mann has warned people to research a online business before purchasing from them.
“If you are shopping for gifts, especially flowers, make sure you research the business and offerings before buying," she said.
The Better Business Bureau advises customers check for reviews about the business and read any fine print to understand a business' policies.
It also advises buyers pay with a credit card so that they are able to dispute any charges if needed.
'Romance baiting'
Scammers try to strike up online relationships with future victims at all times of year, but people can be known to be especially vulnerable to the emotional manipulation around Valentine's Day.
The ACCC has warned that anyone who has met someone through social media or mobile dating apps should be wary of the person's intentions.
It has advised the warning signs for a romance scam tend to be someone who:
- Cannot meet in person for any reason
- Tries to attain empathy, such as telling a story about suffering a loss
- Needs help with a crisis, often to do with illness, injury or travel
- Tries to seem financially stable but needs money as a 'one-off'
- Wants you to invest
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The watchdog was further warned that romance scammers' tactics typically involve:
- The scammer declaring love quickly and sharing emotionally evocative story
- The scammer making frequent contact to 'groom' their victim, even sending gifts
- Scammers increasing contact and pressuring their victim
But people talking to someone they met online only need to follow one main piece of advice to deal with potential scammers, according to the Better Business Bureau: Do not send money to someone you have never met.
Phishing emails and texts
Valentine's Day is just another excuse for scammers to send phishing emails and texts.
They may come in the form of an e-card from a secret admirer, offers for exclusive deals and discounts on goods and holidays, or contact suggesting there may have been issue getting a delivery or gift to the recipient.
Scamwatch has reminded people to always keep in mind that if a deal or situation "looks too good to be true, it probably is".
"When dealing with uninvited contacts from people or businesses, whether it's over the phone, by mail, email, in person or on a social networking site, always consider the possibility that the approach may be a scam," the watchdog advises.
Scamwatch has further warned Aussies to beware of emails or texts that do not address the recipient by name or messages that have typos or grammatical mistakes.
Recipients should not provide any personal information in response to suspicious messages and should not click on any links they provide.
As well as financial losses, romance scams can also cause significant emotional suffering. Anyone experiencing emotional distress about their experience with a scam, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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