Avoiding Heartache: How to Prevent Fraud with Identity Verification

Love is in the air! Or is it? Unfortunately, fraudsters have found that dating apps and fake relationships are effective ways to gain someone’s trust and take advantage of vulnerability. So you need to know how to prevent fraud.

Ever heard the phrase “Love is blind?” Well we’re here to help you see through the fraud. Be vigilant, be wary, and be safe. Now, we don’t want to ruin dating for you altogether. That’s why we’ve compiled lists of ways to spot fraud, prevent it, and protect yourself.

Common Fraud Tactics Disguised as Dating

Fraudsters often exploit dating platforms and relationships to carry out scams, preying on emotions and trust. If you want to know how to prevent fraud, you’ll need to know what to look out for. Here are some common tactics disguised as dating:

Romance Scams

Romance scams rely on building trust and expressing romantic interest. This can be established over a long period of time through messages and other communication. After gaining trust, they try to solicit money by fabricating emergencies, claiming financial hardship, or asking for travel expenses to meet in person. 

Scammers even impersonate military personnel, claiming deployment as a reason they cannot meet in person. They then request money for leave, transportation, or equipment.

Catfishing is often a typical strategy used in romance scams. This refers to fraudsters using fake photos and identities to lure victims into an emotional relationship. The goal is to win the affection and trust of the victim.

Investment, Inheritance, Business, and Cryptocurrency Scams

Once scammers establish a romantic connection, they introduce the victim to an “investment opportunity.” They might guide victims to fake cryptocurrency platforms or investment schemes. They may also claim to have access to a large inheritance or business venture but need financial help with fees, legal costs, or taxes to unlock the funds. To appear legitimate, some even reference real services like fast gold bullion delivery in Melbourne, adding a layer of credibility to their story.

Phishing Scams

Fraudsters don’t always have to directly request money. They can pose as potential romantic partners and build enough trust to convince victims to share personal information, which is then used for identity theft or to access bank accounts.

Sextortion

In addition to personal information, be careful not to share or send sensitive photos or footage. Scammers can encourage victims to share explicit photos or videos then use the materials to blackmail them for money or favors.

Fake Gifts, Packages, and Job Offers

Fraudsters may claim to send valuable gifts but say they’re stuck in customs and ask for money to release the items. Or, they may pretend to offer a way to make money, such as fake remote jobs, but that require an upfront payment or bank details.

Impersonation Scams

Think you’re connecting with an old high school or college friend? Think you can trust them because you go way back? Scammers can pretend to be someone you already know (using hacked or spoofed accounts) and ask for money under false pretenses.

Common Red Flags to Help Spot Fraud

Dating is scary enough. You not only have to protect your heart but also your wallet…. Fortunately, although romance scams are pervasive, there are some clear red flags that can alert you to danger before it’s too late. If you want to know how to prevent fraud, pay attention to the warning signs.

Limiting Personal Details

One obvious warning sign is inconsistencies. If someone can’t keep their story straight, if personal details about their job, family, location, etc. change over time, they might be faking their identity and motives. 

To protect themselves, they might avoid answering direct questions and/or give vague, generic responses regarding their background or life. They will deflect questions and focus on you instead.

Moving Too Fast

Another red flag is if the relationship moves too fast. Fraudsters might profess strong feelings of love within days or weeks of meeting. The goal is to pressure the victim into moving the relationship forward faster than feels natural to establish attachment and trust as soon as possible for the scammer.

Avoiding Physical Meeting

Scammers, especially a catfish, will avoid meeting in person, too. They either aren’t the same person as in the photos they used in their profile, or they just don’t want to be identified or “caught”. Common excuses might include a demanding job, military deployment, living far away, or sudden emergencies. Similarly, they will avoid video calls, and candid photos or selfies.

Requests for Money and Sensitive Information

Regardless of the reason, a request for money is a major red flag. This includes requests for banking information, investment opportunities, gift cards, cryptocurrency, etc. This applies to information that can link to your identity or financial accounts, too, like passwords and SSN.

Phishing isn’t limited to email. It can happen through any messaging app. Clicking on unfamiliar links or downloading malicious content can compromise your security.

Beware of sob stories and emergencies as a tactic to get your guard down and appeal to your sympathetic side. Sob stories typically lead to requests for financial assistance.

Another tactic is pressure. Fraudsters will create urgency to get you to act quickly. They might claim a limited-time opportunity or a dire situation that only you can solve. They use guilt or emotional manipulation to get what they want.

Strange Communication Patterns

Messages from scammers might be overly formal, poorly written, or sound like copy-paste responses. They will avoid phone or video calls and stick to texting or emailing. And communicating at odd hours could indicate that the scammer is in a different time zone than they claim.

Too Good to Be True

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Maybe you meet someone extremely wealthy, famous, or prominent, but their behavior doesn’t match or the situation seems unrealistic. 

This applies to opportunities as well. Invest $200 today, make $800 in a week? A remote job that pays too much? If it seems like you’re getting something for nothing, be wary.

And of course, beware of catfish. Scammers will use photos that look professionally staged or seem “perfect”, and their profile details will be vague with little personal information or specifics. Maybe they have attractive pictures, a good job, and like all of the same things you do. Too good to be true? Maybe, maybe not—just don’t send them any money!

How to Prevent Fraud: Identity Verification Technology

Identity verification technology can play a crucial role in preventing dating-related fraud by ensuring that users are who they claim to be. Here’s how it can help:

Preventing Fake Profiles

Platforms can require users to verify their identities through official documents (e.g., government-issued IDs) and match them against their photos using biometric technology. This reduces the creation of fake profiles and catfishing attempts.

Photo and Video Verification

Users upload a real-time selfie or short video that platforms match to their profile picture using facial recognition. This prevents scammers from using stolen photos or stock images.

Background Screening

Platforms can use identity verification to cross-check users against databases of known scammers or criminal records. Background and criminal records checks can help identify high-risk accounts and remove repeat offenders before they can victimize others.

Fraud Detection Alerts

Advanced identity verification tools can monitor user activity and detect patterns typical of fraud, such as multiple accounts using the same ID or IP address. This allows platforms to flag and investigate suspicious behavior before users fall victim.

IP and Location Matching

Identity verification tools can match a user’s claimed location with their IP address or GPS. This prevents scammers from falsely claiming to be in the same area or country as their victim.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Requiring MFA, such as text or email verification, ensures that only legitimate users can access accounts. This prevents fraudsters from hacking or taking over profiles.

Verified Badges

Verified profiles can be given badges to indicate they’ve undergone thorough identity checks. This encourages transparency, helping users avoid unverified or high-risk accounts.

These are just some useful identity verification tools that developers can use to protect their users and their brand. However, other tools, like background checks, can be used by individuals themselves to confirm that the people they meet are who they say they are. By implementing identity verification, dating platforms can build a safer and more secure environment, significantly reducing the likelihood of fraud.

How to Prevent Fraud: Fraud Prevention Best Practices

Hopefully now you know how to prevent fraud. Whether you are a developer or a user, there are measures you can take to stay safe. 

Remember, you don’t have to be a tech wizard or have a fully outfitted tech toolbox to prevent fraud and avoid heartbreak. Just implement some simple best practices to stay safe.

Watch for red flags. Trust your instincts. Verify information. Never send money, offer sensitive information, or click unfamiliar links. Use trusted dating sites that implement identity verification technologies. If you’re ever in doubt, take time to assess the situation carefully or seek advice from someone you trust.

For help with all of your identity verification needs, Searchbug is your trusted verified data provider. Check out data verification APIs, background check services, and more to help prevent fraud today!