NASHVILLE – With Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14, 2019) fast approaching, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of customer Affairs reminds Tennesseans to be skeptical of ‘sweetheart’ scammers who claim to love you but, in reality, are merely after your hard earned money.

“Valentine’s Day is a period showing your family just how much you care, but inaddition it offers the opportunity that is perfect unscrupulous people to make the most of naive consumers with the use of emotion-provoking scam tactics,” stated TDCI Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “We urge consumers to keep clear of deals that sound too good to be real and people whom ask for the money through online dating services.”

The Division of Consumer Affairs offers the following to help Tennesseans avoid being a scammer’s sweetheart with Tennessee ranked 10 th in the nation for fraud

INTERNET DATING SCAMS

Relationship scams, or “sweetheart” scams, are among the earliest tricks in many scammers’ playbooks. Unfortuitously, the rise of internet dating web sites, mobile apps, and networking that is social have actually provided scammers an alternative way to deceive individuals into believing their schemes. While genuine relationships are usually obtained online, scammers also utilize these web sites and platforms to victim on escort index naive victims. Scammers will generate profiles that are fake attract people and then utilize psychological techniques to get money.

• You meet somebody for a dating website. The individual you’re chatting with immediately desires to keep the dating website and begin interacting over individual email or IM.
• The individual claims love quickly and things turn serious.
• As the person claims become through the U.S., he/she additionally claims become traveling or working offshore.
• Scammers play on thoughts by making up elaborate tales about requiring cash for travel mishaps, medical emergencies, lacking visas ( or other papers) or a short-term setback that is financial.
• The scammers will ask for the help that is financial by them money. The very first transfer is little, but it is followed by needs for lots more.

Keep in mind: NEVER deliver money to an individual who is utilizing the tactics that are above to somebody you’ve never ever met in person.

PRESENT CARD SCAMS

Present cards frauds are an increasingly typical method for scammers to benefit down customers with good motives. This past year, Tennesseans lost nearly $1 million to gift card scammers. Scammers will pose as an internet love interest or perhaps a remote household member confronted with a monetary bind. In the place of a cable transfer or money, the scammers will persuade the customer to shop for present cards (often iTunes or Google Play) and supply all of them with the redeemable rule on the back of the card. (this technique is optimal for scammers since the scam is difficult to trace.) Consumers whom get a obtain re payment utilizing iTunes present cards it to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) at ftc.gov/complaint that they believe may be a scam should report.

• Never read or text someone the PIN number in the relative straight back of something special card. The amount is really as good as cash in the scammers’ pocket.
• Reputable companies, like technology support organizations and shop-at-home services, don’t ask for present cards as re payment. If you’re being asked by a caller to cover a service or product with a present card, continue with caution since it is most likely a scam.
• If you’re buying present cards as gift ideas, remember to purchase them from a professional and understood supply.

DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Considering gift that is purchasing or reduced solutions for Valentine’s Day? keep in mind: