Homeland Security Issues Valentine’s Day Warning for Maine

Valentine's Day is the one day of the year that is all about love and romance.

Most people in a relationship do all they can to make sure Valentine's Day is special for their significant other.  They gift their special someone with jewelry, flowers, and candy.  They take them out for romantic dinners or cook them a special dinner at home.

While it is not true for everyone, many single people spend the day trying to rid themselves of loneliness.

Sadly, scammers know this and will do all they can to capitalize on it.

That’s why the federal government has issued a warning to people who are in online relationships.

The United States Secret Service recently posted a warning to people who are looking for love in the internet.

The post explains that in many cases, the targets of these scams are not random.  Before they reach out to the target, the scammers do extensive research on their potential victims.  They often spend time on open Facebook pages, TikTok accounts, and Instagram accounts in order to learn more about their targets.

In many cases, the scammers are looking for people who are affluent and people who are currently having relationship issues.

The post goes on to say:

Victims can be both men and women. Many times, the criminal targets older people and those who may be struggling in a relationship and/or are emotionally vulnerable. Though most criminals aim for vulnerable targets, affluent and well-educated individuals have also fallen victim to these type of scams. In general, these scams have the potential to affect everyone.

In order to protect yourself from scammers, the United States Secret Service suggests:

• -Be careful about the information you post online.
• -Use reputable sites/apps, but keep in mind that scammers use these, as well.
• -Do some research on the profile picture of potential partners.  For example, do a reverse image lookup to see if that photo has been used elsewhere.
• -Beware if they are quick to ask for inappropriate photos or financial information.
• -If the person seems to be too good to be true, they probably are not real.

You can learn more about protecting yourself from scammers here.

Up for a Valentine's Day road trip?  Check out the most romantic restaurant in New Hampshire.