As Valentine’s Day approaches, Attorney General Dave Sunday is warning Pennsylvanians to stay alert for potential scammers online targeting people looking for relationships.

Online romance scams, also called “catfishing,” are on the rise in Pennsylvania and across the country, particularly around Valentine’s Day when people may be vulnerable looking for companionship.

“Be aware of scammers who use the holiday to target single people in chat rooms and other online platforms,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Online scammers and other bad actors know no bounds when it comes to bilking Pennsylvanians out of their hard-earned money. This conduct sounds callous and cold, but it happens, so be alert.”

Scammers will often research an individual’s social media to learn personal details about the target before they contact them. That background knowledge helps the scammer build trust in convincing the target to send money or provide personal or financial information.

Attorney General Sunday and the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection have the following tips for people to consider before pursuing relationships online. Be wary if the person you are meeting online:

• Wants to leave the dating site immediately in favor of emailing or instant messaging. Many scammers are currently trying to move victims to WhatsApp or Signal because these apps offer better protections to scammers.
• Makes excuses not to video chat or meet up in person.
• Says they are from the United States, but that they are traveling or working overseas.
• Contacts you from inconsistent phone numbers, email addresses, or multiple online profiles.
• Plans a visit, but is prevented from travelling due to a traumatic event or work conflict.
• Changes their story or history frequently. For example, how many siblings or children they have or what city they live in.
• Attempts to isolate you from your family or friends. This may look like the scammer asking you not to tell someone about the situation or the scammer asking you to lie about an aspect of your interaction with them.
• Asks for money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
• Offers to help you invest in cryptocurrency.
• Seeks personal or financial information, or compromising photos early into the conversation.

Other Red Flags to Watch Out For:

• Scammers often create fake profiles on dating apps.
• Scammers may send an enticing text message to target potential victims’ like “hey we have not talked for a while-hope you are ok.”
• Scammers may use Facebook to send a friend request. The request may appear to be from someone you may know or someone new to you.

Consumers who feel that they may have been victimized by this or another scam may submit a complaint with the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection by visiting the website, by emailing scams@attorneygeneral.gov, or by calling the office at 1-800-441-2555. Victims may also report scammers to the online dating website where you met, the Federal Trade Commission, or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.