A record $4.2 billion was lost to online scams in 2020 and Valentine\u2019s Day has become one of the biggest days of the year for scammers. Americans spent approximately $22 billion on gifts last year.<\/p>\n
Scammers see it as an opportunity to get over on unsuspecting shoppers and romantics looking for someone to share the holiday with. The 5 main scams we’re likely to see, so continue reading to see what scam you need to look for this valentine’s day. Scammers see it as an opportunity to trick unsuspecting shoppers and romantics looking for someone to share the holiday with.<\/p>\n
The most obvious Valentine\u2019s Day scam to avoid is romance scams. A record $304 million was lost to romance scams in 2020 and scammers prey on victims who are
\nlonely and single people often feel most alone during special holidays if they do not have anyone to share it with. However, scammers are sophisticated and attack from many different angles.<\/p>\n
Here are 5 Valentine\u2019s Day Scams to Avoid in 2022:<\/p>\n[aesop_image img=”https:\/\/socialcatfish.com\/scamfish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/pexels-gustavo-fring-6699441.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n
A romance scam, or catfishing, is when a scammer uses someone else\u2019s photos, often a good-looking person, to start a relationship online with a victim. Romance scammers often steal large amounts of money<\/a> and leave victims heartbroken and penniless.<\/p>\n 5 Signs You Are Being Catfished and How to Avoid Becoming a Victim:<\/p>\n In today’s day and age, most people have heard of catfishing. Because of shows like MTV’s Catfish, and more awareness on this issue. However, many people do not realize how massive this problem is becoming in society. In 2020, Americans lost a record total of $4.2 billion to romance scams<\/a>. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Romance scams take more money from the average victim<\/a> than any other scam. The median amount lost in romance scams is $2,500, which is 10 times higher than the average amount lost in any other scam.<\/p>\n It’s important to know how the state you live in is affected by romance scams. Some coastal states are especially impacted by this fraudulent activity. Below is a breakdown of money lost to romance scams by state.<\/p>\n\u00a05 Signs You’re Being Catfished<\/h2>\n
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\nprove they are real, but these are photoshopped.<\/li>\n
\nHangouts.<\/li>\n
\nred flag.<\/li>\n
\ninto your account but he is just a trick to get your information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n[aesop_image img=”https:\/\/socialcatfish.com\/scamfish\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/pexels-sharon-mccutcheon-842682.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\n\u00a0Romance Scams Are a Growing Problem<\/h2>\n