To make the most of your online dating experience you must be aware of the risks and give them a wide berth, and this is why we are devoting a multi-part series to “sweetheart scams” or online dating scams.
Here is an example of how the typical sweetheart scam works. These are real emails, shared by the victim in the hope of preventing this from happening to other people.
The scammer used the name Elena Nikitina, and the photographs on the profile corresponded to a very attractive 20-something woman with long brown hair and green eyes. In one of the pictures she was with a little girl. (Note that both name and photograph could be false or appropriated by the scam artist, meaning that they also inculpate an innocent person by using their name or likeness for their purposes).
The unsuspecting dater sent her an ice-breaking message. These are excerpts of her side of the correspondence as it unfolded:
Letter 1
Hello Dear!
First want ask you write me only: blue_moon(at)bk(dot)ru
Its will be more easy for me and you. I was very glad to received your letter. (…) NOTE: Scammers like to take the interaction outside of the dating site as soon as possible. This is not a damning aspect in itself, but one symptom to take into account.
Letter 2
Sweetheart !
Today it is such a wonderful day in my life, because I received your letter!!! I’m grateful to God that He gave you to me, and I’m so grateful to you, my Honey Jake. That now I have You, and I won’t feel myself lonely anymore. (…) NOTE: Scammers will try to create emotional intimacy really fast. If somebody is showering you with this kind of affection on their second email, there is reason to be suspicious.
Letter 3
(…)If you really want to help me with a payment of our correspondence, I will thankful to you. Transfer is better to do with system Western Union. So will you send money to my name Elena Nikitina town of Kremenchug, Poltava area, Ukraine. The adddress - 50 let SSSR str.1-51. Our correspondence cost about 90$ in month. Next letter you must sent me cod transfer, your full name and sum. NOTE: Sooner or later, a scammer will ask for money. In this case it was very soon and only a small sum, but the gentleman on the other side refused to send it.
Letter 4:
Dear Jake! May be you don’t want understand but I have a little children and I must by for her food and cloth. I don’t have possibility that my Angel was hungry because of you. Do you have conscience? Are you realy man or not?!!! Thanks for understanding Lena NOTE: As soon as the request for money is declined, the scammer will fall immediately out of love. Sometimes they cut correspondence, but other times they can be rude and even downright nasty.
In our next article we will show you how the more elaborate (and costly!) scams are set up.
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