AUBURN — The Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about romance scams after receiving numerous reports of these schemes being perpetrated in the community.
Romance scams involve criminals creating fake profiles on dating websites, apps, or social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to build relationships with victims before eventually asking for money.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, people reported a record $547 million in losses to romance scams in 2021, an 80% increase from 2020.
Scammers typically claim they cannot meet in person because they are living or traveling abroad, working on an oil rig, serving in the military, or working with an international organization.
After establishing trust, scammers request money for supposed medical expenses, travel costs to visit, visa fees, or to help them out of trouble.
The sheriff’s office warns that scammers prefer payment methods that are difficult to trace or recover, such as wire transfers through Western Union or MoneyGram, gift cards, money transfer apps, or cryptocurrency.
Officials advise residents never to send money or gifts to someone they haven’t met in person.
If someone suspects they’re being scammed, authorities recommend immediately stopping communication with the person, talking to trusted friends or family, and searching online for similar scam reports.
