Romance Scams: Retrieve Your Lost Funds
Romance scammers are getting craftier every year, using manipulative tactics to take advantage of people looking for love.
These scams can be devastating, both financially and emotionally. But don't lose hope. Our Romance Scam Investigation
services can help you uncover the truth and show you how to get back what’s rightfully yours.
We'll work with you to expose the scam, digging deep into your case and analyzing messages, transactions, and any other
evidence to get to the bottom of it all. Our expert investigators will work tirelessly to identify the people or companies
behind the scam, gathering crucial information that can be used to reclaim your losses.
Romance scams are unfortunately common, and they can be incredibly damaging to your financial and emotional well-being. It's essential to understand how these scams operate and what steps you can take to protect yourself. At Trust Shield Recovery, we're dedicated to empowering our clients with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves from romance fraud.
What are Romance Scams?
There are lots of different types of romance scams circulating, but, in general, they are all cons that involve the scammer
pretending to have romantic feelings towards their victim. The aim is to lure in the intended mark to eventually persuade
them to give or send money or gifts to the scammer. Now, these cons often begin on platforms such as Tinder and other dating sites.
Romance scams can have devastating consequences for those that have fallen victim to them. As well as losing money and/or possessions
of value, the victim is usually left broken-hearted, feeling extremely vulnerable, and may have trouble forming a trusting
relationship for a significant time. This type of scam is particularly cruel and can have long-term effects on the people
who have found themselves entangled in one.
Common Types of Romance Scams
The ‘Classic’ Romance Scam
In this scenario, an individual using a dating site or app will be contacted or matched with a potential partner and get
chatting with them. This person, however, is a scammer and will attempt to begin the process of getting close to their
mark and appear to want to develop a relationship with them. Things could move quickly, and the victim may feel
flattered and that they’ve met the perfect match they’ve been looking for.
The scammer will often push to meet quickly and may bombard their victim with messages declaring their feelings and plans
for the future. At some point, however, the con artist will request money or a gift. They may appear extremely convincing
in their request, using the emotional connection they’ve carefully crafted with their mark to persuade them to acquiesce
to the request without becoming suspicious.
Once money or gifts have been given, the requests for more will come frequently until, typically, the victim will begin to
realize what’s happening and questions the scammer. At this point, the con artist will usually either become aggressive
or - more likely - when it becomes apparent that no more funds will be forthcoming - disappear into thin air.
The ‘Pig Butchering’ Scam
The so-called ‘Pig Butchering’ scam is a relatively new con that originated in China in 2020: it combines a romance scam with
an investment scam. The con unfolds like the ‘traditional’ romance scam as outlined above. However, once the scammer has
successfully feigned romantic feelings for and secured a connection with their victim, they will request (or advise) their
mark to invest in a fake or fraudulent business.
Statistics have shown that, since this scam emerged a few years ago, the majority of its victims have been well-educated
women in their 20s and 30s; and that the average amount of money a victim loses to it is a staggering $98,000.
The ‘Military’ Romance Scam
This is another widespread romance scam. In this case, a con artist will undertake research to create a convincing persona,
uploading their details onto a dating site in the guise of a member of the military. The scammer will usually target an
individual who they’ve discovered has shown support for or who has some connection to the military: they can find this
information from reading profiles or by scouring relevant Facebook groups.
Once the scammer has identified a vulnerable target, the typical pattern will unfold: a relationship will be sought that
escalates quickly. Within a short space of time, money or gift cards will be sought. When the victim asks to meet,
the scammer will claim that they’re currently posted overseas.
Identity Theft
This type of romance scam isn’t concerned with persuading a victim to directly part with their funds but, instead, is
about identity theft. This con typically involves a victim (who is active on a dating site) being sent an email from
an individual they’ve matched with. The mark will be invited to click on a link to view some photos of the
person they’ve connected with.
Unfortunately, once this link is clicked on, the scammer can access their victim’s device and therefore harvest a
multitude of personal details. These could include the victim’s date of birth, address, credit card number,
and banking information and could be used to raid accounts or to take out a loan, for example, in the victim’s name.
Money Muling
With this romance scam, the victim that the scammer has targeted, and has given the impression of forming a close
connection with, is persuaded to move illicit funds as a way to launder money. The con artist will send the
victim money, phones, or valuable possessions and convince them to send these items elsewhere.
Steering clear of this type of scam is vital; victims may find themselves embroiled in a wide-ranging criminal
network that could be both difficult and dangerous to extricate themselves from.
Scammed and Lost Money to a Romance Scam? Here’s What You Need to Do Next
Those who have fallen victim to a romance scam are usually left heartbroken and feeling vulnerable, as well as
having to deal with the loss of an often significant amount of money. These feelings can make seeking help
and restitution even harder - victims may even feel embarrassed or ashamed, making figuring out what to do next even harder.
At Trust Shield Recovery, we understand the devastating impact of romance scams. Our team of experts can help you uncover the truth
and provide you with the tools you need to potentially reclaim your losses. We'll work closely with you throughout the
investigation process, providing support and guidance every step of the way.
You will have a caseworker who will send you constant updates and make sure you're kept in the loop during the investigation.
Ready to take control and fight back? Start by getting a free consultation call, and we will let you know exactly
how our Investigation Report can help you.
If you’d like us to review your case to see if it’s one we believe we can win, then get in touch with us at your earliest
convenience so that we can start the process of recovering your funds and getting you the justice you deserve.