Online dating scams in nigeria

Growing online dating scam leaves victims with emotional trauma, drains finances

Nobody likes to think they could be taken advantage of, especially when it comes to online dating. Unfortunately, Nigerian romance scams are too common on popular dating apps and websites. These scams often involve someone claiming to be from Nigeria attempting to gain your trust to get money or personal information out of you. Nigerian romance scammers typically create profiles on popular dating sites using stolen photos and false information. They then contact potential victims using friendly but generic language. Over time, the conversations become more intimate and personal as the scammer builds trust with their target. Eventually, the scammer will ask for money or gifts, often claiming it is for an emergency or medical procedure. Once they have received the money, they disappear without a trace. One of the most important steps to avoiding a Nigerian romance scam is recognizing red flags early on in your interactions with someone online. Some common warning signs include:.

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Does he seem too good to be true? It might be because he's a romance scammer called a "Yahoo Boy" who wants to steal your life savings. The Yahoo Boys are an online crime group based out of Nigeria that creates fake online personas and uses them to target victims, according to the Department of Justice. Once gaining the victims' trust, the scammers use a pretense to solicit money, like the need to pay an emergency medical expense.

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Chris Maxwell tells Sky News he duped up to 30 victims out of tens of thousands of pounds - but now works for a company that identifies fraudsters. Hiding behind the picture of a handsome American soldier stolen from a real Instagram account, Chris Maxwell would try to make women fall in love with him online. Chris says he became a scammer while he was a student aged 17 and would approach strangers in the US, UK, Canada and Germany on social media.

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Dating And Romance Scams In Nigeria: All You Need To Know

Nigerians are becoming well-known for their involvement in dating or romance scams. Scammers prey on those looking for love connections, generally through dating websites, apps, or social media, by posing as potential partners. They use emotional manipulation to persuade them to provide money, gifts, or personal information. According to CNN , federal authorities have charged ten people in Oklahoma, New York, California, and Texas with conspiring to launder money obtained through a romance scam targeting women nationwide. Five of the individuals charged were arrested in Norman, Oklahoma; one was arrested in Brooklyn, New York; and one was arrested in Long Beach, California.

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