Attorney General Josh Shapiro Warns Pennsylvanians of On The Web Romance Scams

AG Shapiro: “Don’t let scammers steal your hard earned money or your heart this Valentine’s Day.”

HARRISBURG — On Valentine’s Day, Attorney General Josh Shapiro is warning Pennsylvanians of love scammers who entice individuals into online relationships, then ask for cash and scam them. On line relationship frauds, popularly known as “catfishing,” are increasingly place that is taking raya Pennsylvania and over the usa.

“Scam designers are often attempting new techniques to cheat individuals from their money that is hard-earned, Attorney General Shapiro stated. “These criminals utilize every ruse that is online to have individuals to allow their guard down and take their cash or private information — including tricking them into thinking they’ve been in love. We’ve seen Pennsylvanians relationships that are seeking lose a lot more than $100,000 to those catfishing frauds. Don’t let scammers take your cash or your heart this Valentine’s Day.”

Two Pennsylvanians who have been harmed in online love frauds and whom filed complaints aided by the Attorney General’s Bureau of customer Protection are telling their tales to simply help other state residents you shouldn’t be harmed.

Peggy Cimorelli, of Skippack, Montgomery County, had been victimized by a love scam artist.

“I happened to be interacting with a man on the internet and within the phone for just two and a years that are half” Cimorelli stated. “He said he had been a motor vehicle dealer and therefore he traveled a whole lot for work. He asked me for the money for resort rooms, routes and present cards. Fundamentally, he scammed me personally away from significantly more than $49,000. I’m 72 years of age. I am hoping that sharing my story will help alleviate problems with even one girl like myself from being scammed.”

Another scam that is local, Doris Orta, of Bethlehem, had a certain message for seniors looking for love on line.

“I am 78 yrs . old and alone have been for 26 years,” Orta stated. “The very first time we utilized a dating website, I came across an individual who we was thinking I really could trust along with of my own information. He scammed me away from $5,300. I will be outraged that someone would make the most of me personally that way. We thank Attorney General Shapiro therefore the Bureau of customer Protection to take my claim therefore really and upgrading to safeguard customers like myself.”

Since Attorney General Shapiro took workplace twelve months ago, their Bureau of customer Protection has received at the least a dozen complaints associated with online relationship scams. The Bureau of customer Protection believes most victims are too embarrassed and harmed in the future ahead after they’ve been scammed to register complaints, and Attorney General Shapiro is urging Pennsylvanians to contact their Bureau of customer Protection to analyze their situations.

“I would like to hear away from you in the event that you’ve been hurt by an on-line relationship scam,” Attorney General Shapiro stated. “Pennsylvanians who think they’ve been victimized should e-mail us at scams@attorneygeneral.gov or phone my Bureau of customer Protection at 800-441-2555.”

The FBI reports that online relationship scam victims destroyed $220 million in 2016, therefore the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that lots of people fall target to such scams each 12 months. Many scammers claim these are generally out from the nation because of army solution or company, the FTC claims.

Attorney General Shapiro together with Bureau of customer Protection have actually strategies for visitors to think about before pursuing relationships online. Be skeptical in the event that individual they meet online:

Attorney General Shapiro cautioned consumers to not wire, send or deposit cash or present cards for:

Victims can report a love scammer towards the workplace of Attorney General, the dating that is online where you came across, the Federal Trade Commission or perhaps the FBI’s Web Crime Complaint Center.