How the scam works:
There is no secret that when they’re out of the country working hard, sailors and soldiers are missing affectionate times from the opposite sex. Needless to say, they are the most vulnerable to the Sex Extortion (or ‘Sextortion’) scam. However, it could happen to anybody who is looking to find a soul mate. Most of the victims are being approached on social media, on platforms like Google Hangouts, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, or Instagram.
Once the scammers get your trust and your romance gets under way, they will ask you to send compromising pics or videos (some even recorded live on Messenger, Google Hangouts or Zoom). If you do that, they will proceed to ask you for money, in order to avoid publishing those images online.
How to avoid:
Never let your guard down in front of people you meet online. Always meet in person and establish a relationship first. Avoid online dating encounters at all costs. Better safe than sorry.
How to report:
Make your family and friends aware of this online dating scam by sharing it on social media using the buttons provided. You can also officially report the scammers to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) using the link below:
How to protect yourself more:
If you want to be the first to find out the most notorious scams every week, feel free to subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter here. You’ll receive periodical emails and we promise not to spam. Last but not least, use the Comments section below to expose other scammers.
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