Video Transcript

Jule Albretsen: Not everyone on dating sites and apps is looking for love. I'm Special Agent Jule Albretsen with the Salt Lake City FBI. A romance scam involves someone using a fake online identity to gain a victim's affection and trust, only to drain their accounts. In 2021 victims of romance scams reported losses of approximately $1 billion. These con artists are experts at what they do, so don't be fooled. Here are a few tips to keep in mind. Research the person's photo and profile using online searches. Be cautious if they seem too good to be true. Go slowly and ask a lot of questions. And never send money to someone you haven't met in person. If you think you're a victim of a romance scam, stop communicating with the person immediately and file a complaint at IC3.gov.