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Wrong number and fake relationships (romance scam)

How it works

  • You receive a message such as “sorry, wrong number” or “did we meet at the conference?”
  • The person becomes friendly and builds trust over days or weeks
  • Then an “investment opportunity” or an emergency that needs money appears
  • The investment platform is fake and the money you deposit cannot be withdrawn

Warning signs

  • A stranger who writes to you out of the blue and keeps the conversation going
  • Very attractive pictures and a story that is too good
  • A refusal to talk on the phone or on video
  • The subject quickly turns to money, cryptocurrency or a trading platform

What to do

  1. Do not carry on a conversation with a stranger who appeared out of nowhere.
  2. Do not send money and do not deposit money in platforms recommended by them.
  3. Run a reverse image search on the person's photo: it is often taken from someone else.
  4. If you lost money: call your bank, then 1911.
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