Five romance scams to avoid this Valentine's DayFive romance scams to avoid this Valentine's Day

Romance may be in the air, but scammers and cybercriminals are not taking a break this Valentine's Day.

Experts are warning digital users to be vigilant to avoid romance scams or catfishing on social media and dating apps, and to be wary of "too good to be true" deals online or sent via email.

Connecting Africa has compiled a list of the most common scams making the rounds and how to protect both your heart and your wallet.

1. Social media and dating app scams

Unfortunately, the number of fraudsters posing as romantic interests online has become more prevalent over the past few years.

The most common version of this is catfishing on social media platforms or dating apps with the aim of getting money out of the target or steal personal information.

"From the cases we've handled, scammers often initiate contact on online platforms by expressing romantic interest. Once a connection is established, the scammer fabricates urgent financial or personal crises to manipulate their target into sending money or disclosing sensitive information," explained Advocate Athaly Khan, head of fraud risk management at Standard Bank.

Khan said these scams can lead not only to severe financial losses but also emotional distress and long-lasting trust issues.

"We're all for fairytales but remember, fraud is no fairytale. Scammers prey on people's vulnerability in the search for love," cautioned Khan.

The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) has also urged citizens to be aware of the fact that social media and dating apps are increasingly being used for romance scams and social engineering to perpetrate fraud.

Social engineering is the tactic of manipulating, influencing, or deceiving a victim to gain control over a computer system, or to steal personal and financial information. It uses psychological manipulation to trick users into making security mistakes or giving away sensitive information.

The growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) is only making this worse with cybercriminals now using AI to create deepfake photos and videos and to craft compelling backstories to successfully pull off romance scams.

Nazia Karrim, head of product development at the SAFPS, said scammers will often insert themselves into the lives of their victims and become very interested in aspects of their lives such as family, pets and their financial or work situation.

"This last part is important when running investment scams," she said.

Statistics show that despite warnings, most people still use passwords that include information such as the name of loved ones, or key dates like anniversaries or birthdays.

"Armed with this information, scammers have a perfect platform to commit impersonation fraud," warned Karrim.

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2. Fake e-commerce websites

As couples prepare to celebrate with flowers and gifts, global cybersecurity company Kaspersky warns that cybercriminals are setting up fake websites, offering perfect bouquets, engagement rings or even tech gadgets. 

The company warns people to beware of online offers that seem a little too good to be true.

Online shopping scams could come in the form of fake websites that closely mimic a reputable online retailer.

For example, Kaspersky's experts detected a fake website that closely mimics Amazon offering customers deals on jewelry.

It said the fraudulent scheme, aimed at stealing users' Amazon credentials, encourages customers to enter their Amazon login and password, inadvertently compromising their account details to cybercriminals.

This results in a marketplace account takeover, potentially leading to other phishing attacks or personal and banking data leaks.

An example of a fake website detected by Kaspersky's experts that closely mimics Amazon. (Source: Kaspersky)

"Holiday time is always marked with the large number of scams. Fraudulent schemes are mostly standard, however, they are highly adaptable to all emerging trends," suggested Olga Svistunova, a security expert at Kaspersky.

"Being cautious, when receiving favorable offers and tremendous discounts online, is crucially important. It is advisable to verify website addresses and avoid entering your personal information or banking details on suspicious sites in order to protect yourself from potential scams," Svistunova added.

Similar websites were found for deals on flowers or tech products, offering time-limited discounts.

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3. Phishing emails and dodgy DMs

Another thing to beware of is emails or social media direct messages (DMs) about Valentine's Day deals which may try to trick you into clicking on a phishing link.

Another popular tactic employed by scammers around Valentine's Day is the creation of fake electronic greeting cards (e-cards).

These messages may claim to contain a personal note from an admirer, a romantic poem, or even a gift but once clicked lead you to a phishing website looking to harvest your personal or banking information.

Beware of fake e-cards or Valentine's Day shopping deals that may be looking to harvest your personal or banking information. (Source: Image by storyset on Freepik)

Keith Robinson, VP of sales for MetaCompliance, warns that Valentine's Day scams often play on the emotions associated with love and romance.

"Cybercriminals are skilled at crafting enticing emails, messages, or social media posts that appear to be from a secret admirer or a long-lost love interest," he said.

He said these messages may contain subject lines like "A Valentine's Day Surprise for You" or "Someone Has a Crush on You" with a goal of tricking users into clicking on malicious links or downloading infected attachments.

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4. Social media giveaway scams

A new category of scams is emerging in the form of fake giveaways, promising free Valentine's Day gifts in exchange for personal details.

Experts warn that these scams often lead to identity theft or financial fraud.

Hellopeter warns that its not always easy to spot the difference between a scam and a legitimate social media giveaway, but there are some telltale signs you can look out for.

"If you get a random message saying you’ve won, be sceptical. Scammers often try to impersonate legit brands. Verify the message by checking the account for authenticity, and never click on links or engage with random and unsolicited direct messages (DMs). This is how scammers trick you into going to fake websites or downloading malware onto your device," the company warned in a blog post.

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5. Fake dating platforms

In the modern world where most people look for love online, fraudsters are designing malicious dating sites and apps disguised as legitimate platforms to harvest user information, sneak malware onto your device or trick you into sending them money.

Although it is possible to be catfished on a legitimate dating platform it is also important to look for fake ones.

Robinson said that the emotional nature of Valentine's Day makes people more vulnerable to deceptive tactics, which is why awareness is key.

"Stick to well-known dating services and keep your app permissions in check," he advises.

Karrim said that while online dating has become the norm you can't take every profile at face value.

"Scammers have become very good at creating profiles modelled around the ideal criteria of a person that most people are looking for in a friend or partner. Once an initial connection is made, the scammer interacts as that person, creating a bond with potential victims," Karrim explained.

Red flags:

Don't be duped: