Are you looking for your forever love online? Are you also afraid of being a victim of a romance scam? Well, using dating and matrimonial apps and websites is very common these days, and with that opportunities to scam innocent victims looking for love also increase. These days it's quite common to come across dating scams - these range from actual fake profiles to catphishing to financial frauds. Dating scams are one of the easiest, because we tend to be vulnerable while looking out for love.

These scammers are smooth talkers, masters of creating fake personas that seem perfect for you. They'll shower you with sweet words, affectionate messages, and promises of a beautiful future together. It feels amazing, like a dream come true.

But here's the catch: as your digital love story unfolds, the scammer starts spinning a web of lies. They might invent emergencies, like sudden hospital visits or urgent travel needs. And they'll turn to you, their newfound love, for help. They'll ask for money, maybe just a little at first, but then more and more as they weave their tale of woe.

It's all a big lie, a heartless game to them. They're not interested in love — they're after your hard-earned cash. Before you know it, you could be sending them money, hoping to help the person you care about, only to find out it was all a cruel trick.

These scams can be devastating, and not just financially — imagine the heartache of realizing the person you've grown to care for doesn't even exist.

And that's not it. They can even pose as someone else to catfish you into liking them! 

The consequences of falling victim to a romance scam can be devastating, both emotionally and financially. Victims may suffer significant financial losses, depletion of savings, and damage to their credit and reputation. Moreover, the emotional toll of betrayal and heartbreak can have long-lasting effects on mental health and well-being.

To protect users from these romance scams, Truecaller believes in making people aware of the common tactics used by scammers, as well as a number search feature that could flag potential fraud numbers!

Let's say you've been using a dating app for a while, hoping to find a meaningful connection. You match with someone who seems perfect — they're charming, attractive, and share your interests. You start chatting, and they quickly sweep you off your feet with sweet messages and promises of a future together.

As you continue talking, this person shares personal stories about their life, making you feel like you're really connecting. They might even send you photos that seem genuine and relatable.

After a few weeks of chatting, they drop a bombshell: they tell you they're in a tough situation. Maybe they claim to be stuck in a foreign country with no way to get home, or they say they've fallen ill and need expensive medical treatment.

Feeling sympathetic and caring, you want to help. They ask if you could send them some money to cover their expenses, promising to pay you back as soon as they can.

Out of concern and trust, you send the money, hoping to assist this person who has captured your heart. They thank you profusely, reassuring you of their love and gratitude.

However, as time goes by, you start to notice some red flags. They always seem to have excuses for why they can't video chat or meet in person. When you try to call, they rarely pick up or have a poor excuse for the call not working.

Eventually, you realize something isn't right. You try to reach out, but the messages go unanswered. You start to feel betrayed and heartbroken when you realize that the person you cared for was never who they claimed to be.

In this example, the romance scammer created a fake persona to build a false sense of trust and intimacy. They manipulated your emotions to get you to send them money, preying on your desire for love and connection.

If you have come across a romance scammer, ensure to do the following

• Report the profile in the dating/matrimonial app
• If at all possible to find the real person whose picture the scammer has used is located, let them know this has happened.
• Protect yourself by searching for the number they claim as theirs on Truecaller and see if anyone of our 400 million+ community members have reported this number.

If you've been targeted by a romance scam, you can reach out to agencies such as:

• Your local authorities
• If you have transferred some money, approach your banks immediately to freeze the transaction if possible
• Report the profile on the app where you met them
• Ensure you report the phone number of the scammer on Truecaller, so the whole community can be alerted as well

If you are in the United States, these could be some agencies you could reach out to:

1. Federal Trade Commission (FTC): You can file a complaint with the FTC online at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ 
2. Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): You can file a complaint with the IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov/ 
3. Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) https://www.idtheftcenter.org/
4. Better Business Bureau (BBB) (also works for Canada) https://www.bbb.org/
5. fraud.org

If you are in India, these could be agencies you could reach out to:

1. Cyber Crime Portal https://cybercrime.gov.in
2. Sanchar Saathi Suspected Fraud Communication Reporting https://sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc/
3. Cyber Frauds Helpline - Toll-free number 1930 https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1814120

Remember the most important thing! Do not beat yourself up. Scams can happen to anyone and yes, it's normal to feel embarrassed or ashamed but scams happen to any person around. Talking about would be embarrassing to you, but if you talk about this, others can be protected from similar dating scams.