{"id":14923,"date":"2023-11-28T12:09:30","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T20:09:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/socialcatfish.com\/blog\/?p=14923"},"modified":"2023-11-28T12:09:41","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T20:09:41","slug":"can-a-scammer-fall-in-love-with-their-victim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/socialcatfish.com\/scamfish\/can-a-scammer-fall-in-love-with-their-victim\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a Scammer Fall in Love With Their Victim?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2019, romance scams became the <\/span>second most reported crime<\/span><\/a> to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In fact, over 25,000 people lost around $200 million. These figures prove how rampant and detrimental romance scams are.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019ve met them on online dating sites, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms, these scammers share one goal: to steal money from you while breaking your heart in the process. However, you might ask, \u201cCan a scammer fall in love with their victim? Technically, yes, but they can never be fully trusted because coming clean is often the second part of the scam<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n[aesop_image img=”https:\/\/socialcatfish.com\/scamfish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/ethmessages-lvJSwq4Hqcs-unsplash.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n

Anatomy of Romance Scams<\/span><\/h2>\n

You may have been romance scammed<\/a>, but because you were blinded by your genuine feelings for the scammer, you might have missed the signs. It\u2019s crucial to establish how romance scams<\/a> work. They will create a fake online identity<\/a> and approach you whether on dating apps or social media.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Given their attractive photos and interesting profiles, you might be convinced to entertain them. Then, they\u2019ll start showing their affection to make you not only fall in love with them but also trust them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the attempt to build an intimate relationship with you as early as possible is just an instrument to their real<\/a> agenda, which is draining your bank account. They never show up \u2014 even in video calls<\/a> \u2014 but will ask you to send them money to cover a medical emergency, travel cost, or business-related fees.<\/span><\/p>\n[aesop_image img=”https:\/\/socialcatfish.com\/scamfish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/sammy-williams-q7ZlbWbDnYo-unsplash.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n

Can a Romance Scammer Fall in Love With Their Victim?<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve been romance scammed, you might still be wondering whether the fraudster cares about you, given that you\u2019ve shared a lot of moments online. While it\u2019s possible, you can never trust a scammer. Even if they come clean, it\u2019s usually part of the scam<\/a>. They will still resort to gift card scams<\/a> to gain more money from you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Several people end up getting scammed even after \u201cconfessing.\u201d They would say sorry for lying about their names, lifestyle, and identity. However, these scammers are manipulative enough and make you empathize with them as they share emotional stories<\/a> about why they did such things.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, they\u2019ll share how relieved they are now that you already know their real name and identity. They will convince you that they\u2019re genuinely sorry and tell you how happy they are that they can now be more honest with you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, once you believe in their story and trust them again, they will start asking for gift cards<\/a> and steam cards. They love these options as they\u2019re like cash, and it\u2019s hard to trace the funds.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Avoiding Romance Scams<\/span><\/h2>\n

While there are people truly looking for love online, there are also romance scammers who are just after your money<\/a>. So, avoid them as early as you can with these steps:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n