Romance Scams

Meeting people online through dating apps, websites, and social media is increasingly common. However, you must be very careful when interacting with strangers!

Scammers often create fake profiles and take advantage of the feeling of anonymity that the Internet provides to use them to try to deceive others, obtain sensitive information, and commit fraud.

While there's no foolproof way to protect yourself from these risks, certain precautions can help:

To make sure you're not engaging with a fake profile, look for signs of a real person, such as recent photos and profiles on other social media platforms.
Do a reverse image search or look up the person’s name to check for any indications that may raise suspicions, such as victims reporting similar situations or the same photo used across multiple profiles.
Avoid sharing personal information such as your address, routines, workplace, phone number, or financial data. Remember that intimate conversations and images can later be used for blackmail, putting both your privacy and emotional well-being at risk.
Be especially cautions of messages that appeal to your emotions, contain threats, or ask for money or personal information. If you notice any warning signs, the safest option is to block and report the profile.

If you decide to meet in person, be careful to avoid risks such as kidnapping or assault. Pick a public, busy place where you feel comfortable. Let your friends or family know where you'll be and when, share a photo of the person you’re meeting, and ask them to call you during the meeting.

Stay alert to signs of possible scams and manipulation, but if you do become a victim, don't blame yourself! Collect evidence such as screenshots of chats and bank statements and file a police report as soon as possible. If necessary, seek legal advice.

Sharing sensitive information or becoming emotionally involved with strangers whether online or offline can compromise your safety. Take the necessary precautions and enjoy more secure interactions.

This topic was proposed at the Hackathon organized at the 13th Internet Governance Forum (in Portuguese, Fórum da Internet no Brasil) which took place at Uberlândia (MG) - https://forumdainternet.cgi.br/fib13/.
It was developed by Ana Carolina Dias and Terezinha Alves.

Description 
In the first scene, a young woman and a man are chatting online. The man appears to have romantic intentions. At the top of the screen, the phrase “Have you met someone online?” appears and then changes to “Be careful!” as the woman checks the man’s profile.

In the second scene, the phrase that appears at the top of the screen reads “Be careful if they ask for personal information, intimate photos, or money”. The woman appears to be deep in thought.

In the third scene, the man asks for money. The woman becomes angry, and the man reveals himself to be a scammer and runs away. At the top of the screen, the phrase “It could be a romance scam!” appears.