• Advertise
  • About us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
Friday, April 23, 2021
Australian Times News
  • News
  • Lifestyle
    • Recipes
    • Video
    • Lotto Results
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Sport
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Lifestyle
    • Recipes
    • Video
    • Lotto Results
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Sport
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
Australian Times News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Love you long time – but only short time when it’s online

Online dating can be a minefield for those feeling lovesick. Last year Australians lost $38-million to mainly online romance scammers.

Mike Simpson by Mike Simpson
26-02-2021 01:30
in News
Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay

Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay

While there are many success stories of people falling in love after meeting online, there are also some very sad tales involving victims of romance scams, consumer authorities are warning.

Australians reported losing more than $38-million to romance scammers in 2020, the majority of which was lost through social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

An average loss of $30,000 per victim

In Western Australia alone, last year 72 lovelorn victims reported losing $2.17-million – an average loss of $30,000 each.

These figures have prompted consumer protection agencies across the country to remind people to be cautious and that victims aren’t just those who are actively seeking a partner – it could be you, a friend or family member.

Romance scammers will often spend months building up trust before asking for money from their victim, who may agree to send funds because they feel the need is genuine, or believe it will be used to buy an airfare so their love-interest can travel to meet them. 

Scammers will likely use false images

But while the victim is feeling loved-up, the scammer becomes cashed-up.

Often these people will use stock images, or images they’ve taken from someone else’s social media, so before engaging online it’s important to do a reverse-image search via Google or TinEye.

AlsoRead...

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Former NZ Govt spooks should be stopped from private spying, says party

23 April 2021
Photo by Tania Malréchauffé on Unsplash

New US climate pledge: Cut emissions 50% this decade, but can Biden make it happen?

23 April 2021

“Always be wary if the person you’ve met online quickly wants to move communications away from the dating website or app and onto another platform such as email, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp or Viber,” advises WA’s Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Lanie Chopping.

Be suspicious if they won’t meet you

“If they ask for money, but won’t meet in person, that’s a big red flag. Never give money to someone you haven’t met in person.”

Chopping says it’s important be careful about the personal information you share, as many romance scam victims lose more than money.  They can also experience fraud – such as discovering new mobile phone accounts set up in their name, or that their superannuation account has been accessed.

People who believe they are the victim of such a scam can report it to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) by visiting www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam

Tags: Australian Competition and Consumer CommissionConsumer ProtectionConsumerismloveonline datingscams
DMCA.com Protection Status

SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER

Terms and Conditions

Don't Miss

Former NZ Govt spooks should be stopped from private spying, says party

by Mike Simpson
23 April 2021
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
at

New Zealand’s Green Party says it’s unacceptable that an ex-intelligence services agent should be used to spy on environmentalists.

Read more

New US climate pledge: Cut emissions 50% this decade, but can Biden make it happen?

by The Conversation
23 April 2021
Photo by Tania Malréchauffé on Unsplash
News

President Joe Biden announced an ambitious new national climate target at an online summit of world leaders on April 22,...

Read more

‘Self-driving’ cars are still a long way off. Here are three reasons why

by The Conversation
23 April 2021
Photo by Bram Van Oost on Unsplash
News

Most automated driving solutions available on the market today require human intervention. This puts them at level 1 (driver assistance,...

Read more

UK Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index, Friday 23 April 2021

by UK Weather
23 April 2021
weather
UK Weather

Be prepared for any weather with our daily forecast in the UK.

Read more

Too many Aussie businesses still reluctant to hire older workers

by Mike Simpson
23 April 2021
Amazon boss Jeff Bezos is 57 - would you hire him? Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
News

Almost half of organisations surveyed said they were not keen to hire workers over a certain age, according to joint...

Read more

Morrison government quashes Victoria’s Belt and Road deal with China

by Michelle Grattan
23 April 2021
Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash
News

The Morrison government has cancelled the Belt and Road agreements Victoria has with China.

Read more

Free Horoscope for today, 23 April 2021

by Horoscopes
23 April 2021
Free Daily Horoscope - Astrology
Horoscopes

Keep your karma positive with these daily free horoscope readings!

Read more
Load More

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status

  • About us
  • Write for Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • T&Cs, Privacy and GDPR
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Lifestyle
    • Recipes
    • Video
    • Lotto Results
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Sport
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status