100 Types of Fraud "Romance Fraud"
WeChat Safety Team, in collaboration with WeChat Customer Service and the Guardian Product, has released an expertly crafted guide titled "Outsmarting Telecom Fraud: What Every User Should Know". This guide shines a spotlight on the ten most insidious telecom fraud tactics, encompassing a total of 100 typical scams, including "the deceptive 'free giveaways'", and "impersonations of officials". This guide is designed to help you quickly identify and dodge the traps set by these scammers.
In this chapter, let's delve into the murky world of romance fraud, unveiling 9 common schemes that scammers rely on to ensnare victims and robust defenses against these traps.
Romance Fraud
Scammers and victims get to know each other through online social platforms and establish a relationship through daily chatting. Scammers then exploit the victim's trust to defraud them of money under various pretexts.
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· Exchange tokens of commitment · New variant of pig butchering scam · Bridal liquor scam · Stewardess harassed by a scumbag · Overseas engineer asking for help |
· Pig butchering scam · Liquor-selling scam · Mazu temple offering scam · Sincerity proof involving money |
Typical Fraud Cases
1. Exchange tokens of commitment
Scammers fabricate perfect images to win victims' favor and then use the pretext of exchanging tokens of commitment to make the victims purchase online.
Subsequently, scammers send a link to victims, enticing them to shop in a fake online store.
2. Pig butchering scam
Scammers get in touch with victims through dating websites, add them as friends, and frequently chat to cultivate a relationship. They then claim to teach victims about investing as a pretext to defraud them.
Scammers intentionally exaggerate the benefits, instilling concepts of "easy operation" and "guaranteed profits" in the victims, with the aim of guiding them to make an investment on a fake platform.
3. New variant of pig butchering scam
Scammers meticulously craft an online romantic relationship with victims, occasionally revealing the deceptive opportunity of investing in a seemingly lucrative online store, enticing victims with the allure of profits.
They may then escalate the scheme by recommending a premium investment plan, claiming it offers better benefits without additional charges, but in the end, no service or product is provided.
4. Liquor-selling scam
Scammers engage with victims and share fabricated personal tragedies to elicit empathy. They concoct stories such as their grandfather being unjustly dismissed from a distillery, painting a picture of urgent financial distress. Leveraging the victim's compassion, they manipulate them into parting with their money.
5. Selling her friends' liquor
Scammers often find potential victims on dating websites. Once a connection is made, they proceed to add them on WeChat. After some time building rapport, they fabricate a story about a poor close friend who is supposedly getting married, asking victims to buy her liquor for the wedding, under the guise of helping a friend in need.
6. Temple offering scam
After establishing a bond of trust with victims, scammers claim to be visiting the Mazu temple to pray for blessings, and then send a QR code to victims, encouraging them to buy prayer beads as a means of accruing spiritual merit.
Scammers support their ruse by providing real-time updates on their visit to the temple, often using videos and photos sourced online to convince the victim of their sincerity and to entice them into the scam.
7. Red packet screenshot to deter scumbags
Scammers claim to be stewardesses harassed by ex-boyfriends, convincing victims to send a red packet as a show of a new relationship for social media proof on Moments.
They request bank account and name under the guise of transferring funds through online banking, and then send fake bank transfer screenshots to disarm the victim's suspicions.
8. Red packet screenshot to show off love
Scammers ask victims to transfer money as a proof of commitment, claiming that paying is a sign of true love. Once the money is sent, the scammers vanish.
9. Distressed engineer
Scammers pose as foreign engineers, forming bonds before claiming to face work-related crises and seeking financial assistance from victims.
Typical Process of Romance Fraud
Strategies to Prevent Romance Fraud
Be cautious with online romance/relationship
Scammers use attractive photos as their profile photos on dating websites or social platforms, crafting the illusion of perfect partners. After connecting with victims, they engage in regular chats to build an emotional bond, setting the stage for future fraud.
Stay vigilant while making friends online; do not readily trust identities portrayed on social platforms. Do not engage in financial transactions with individuals whose identities have not been verified through trustworthy channels.
Invest through legitimate platforms
In romance frauds, scammers often pose as successful individuals, coaxing victims to participate in the seemingly lucrative investment opportunities, stock trading, or financial management. However, they typically employ fraudulent investment platforms to execute their scams.
WeChat Safety advises investing through legitimate financial platforms and seeking advice from official customer service or consultants. Do not trust easily personal accounts claiming to be agents, intermediaries, or customer service. Moreover, avoid investing or managing finances on unfamiliar platforms.
Say no to betting
In pig butchering scams, scammers often lure victims to betting websites under various pretenses to place bets.
If someone, even a close friend, entices you to bet, stay away from them.