With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s best to be reminded to stay vigilant with e-mail scams. Because romance scams are a massive moneymaker for hackers.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, or FBI, “In 2020, complaints filed with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), showed that victims lost more than $281 million to romance scams. South Carolinians reported losses of more than $4.4 million that year. These schemes affect victims from all demographics, but elderly women are often targeted most.”

Outside of a dating website, rapid efforts to contact via email or messaging services is one of the warning signs of a hacker. These attacks often request money, or personal information in exchange for forms of affection or sympathy.

It’s suggested to report a romance scam to the IC3. if you suspect you have been a victim. You should notify the website or application from which the contact originated. If you come across any fraudulent or questionable transactions, you should also inform your banking institution.

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