Romance Scams

Unfortunately, with free online dating sometimes comes people with less than appropriate motives in mind who may attempt to contact you.

Meeta is aware of such activity and actively works to not only inform our members on ways to avoid getting scammed, but also immediately remove any and all false profiles before they have a chance contact our members. Educate yourself on the common practices of scammers and how you can ensure your – and your bank account's – safety.

How romance scams work

These are a recent variant in the money-for-romance angle. The male or female "victim" is approached on an online dating service and becomes interested in a "lady" or "man" who has attractive pictures posted, generally stolen from online portfolios of modeling agencies. The offending party claims to be interested in coming to visit the victim, but needs some cash up front in order to book the plane, hotel room, and other expenses.

In other cases he or she may have just traveled to Nigeria (for tourism or business) and has been arrested by corrupt officials, or become ill from eating the local food, and needs an emergency Western Union transfer to bail or bribe his/her way out. As with other variants, money always seems to travel to Africa mainly via Western Union, and the "lady" or "man" always seems to come up with additional reasons for requesting more funds.

A typical romance scam example:

Hi,

Greetings across the miles,how are you doing today deares. My name is charlie wilson, am divorced and seeking a long term relastionship, i live alone in indiana, i just you to know that am intreasted in you.

Let's catch up! on Yahoo Messenger makes it easy for us to chat,( communicate) share photos. Out of all that God has blessed me with,talking about healthy life and a nice job the only thing missing is a companion to share my love with, some one with a warm smile,some one very pleasent to talk with at home.

Add me now if you're up for some fun.my add is xxx@yahoo.com

Add my yahoo ID and send me your own invite Don't have Messenger yet? download it.

Regards, Charles

How money laundering and advance fee fraud works

The 'investors' are contacted, typically with an offer of the type "A rich person from the needy country needs to discreetly move money abroad, would it be possible to use your account?". The sums involved are usually in the millions of dollars, and the investor is promised a large share, often forty percent. The proposed deal is often presented as a "harmless" white-collar crime, in order to dissuade participants from later contacting the authorities. Similarly, the money is often said to be the embezzled funds of a recently deposed or killed dictator. The operation is professionally organized in Nigeria, with offices, working fax numbers, and often contacts at government offices. The investor who attempts to research the background of the offer will usually find that all pieces fit perfectly together.

If they then agree to the deal, the other side will first send several documents bearing official government stamps, seals etc., and then introduce delays, such as "in order to transmit the money, we need to bribe a bank official. Could you help us with a loan?" or "In order for you to be allowed to be a party to the transaction, you need to have holdings at a Nigerian bank of $100,000 or more" or similar. More delays and more additional costs are added, always keeping the promise of an imminent large transfer alive. Sometimes psychological pressure is added by claiming that the Nigerian side, in order to pay certain fees, had to sell all belongings and borrow money on their house.

In any case, the promised money transfer never happens. The money or gold does not exist.

Such spam is often sent from Internet cafes equipped with satellite Internet. Recipient addresses and email content are copied and pasted into a webmail interface using a standalone storage medium, such as a memory card. Some London-based gangs have been known to use spamware on laptops which they surreptitiously connect to the cafe's network, but even this software is notably out-of-date. While this method is significantly more labor-intensive per mail sent than others, it offers near-total anonymity and allows them to very quickly and easily relocate. The often professional layout of web pages and so on used in the scams suggests that they do not lack technical sophistication.

A typical advance fee scam example

Dear Love

I know this mail will come to you as a surprise since we have not known each other,but would like to tell you that i got your contact information through meeta dating site. please bear with me at this period of time.i will really like to have a good relationship with you, and i have a special reason why i decided to contact you.

I decided to contact you because of the urgency of my situation here and after reading your profile.,I am Miss Grace Yormie 26 years old girl from Liberia the only daughter of Late Johnson Yormie the deputy minister of national security under the leadership of president Charles Taylor who is now in exile after many innocent soul were killed ,My father was killed by government of Charles Taylor ,he accuse my father of coup attempt.

I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment I,m receiving from my step mother. She planned to take away all my late father's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Father.

Meanwhile I wanted to escape to the Europe but she hide away my international passport and other valuable travelling documents. Luckily she did not discover where I kept my father’s File which contains important documents. So I decided to run to the refugee camp where I am presently seeking asylum under the United Nations High Commission for the Refuges here in Lome, Republic of Togo. I wish to contact you personally for a long term business relationship and investment assistance in your Country.

My father of blessed memory deposited the sum of US$5, 700, 000.00 in one Bank with my name as the next of kin. However, I shall forward you with the necessary documents on confirmation of your acceptance to assist me for the transfer and investment of the fund As you will help me in an investment, and i will like to complete my studies, as i was in my ist year in the university, when the crisis started.

It is my intention to compensate you with 10% of the total money for your services and the balance shall be my investment capital. This is the reason why I decided to contact you. Please all communications should be through this email address only for confidential purposes.

As soon as I receive your positive response showing your interest I will put things into action immediately. In the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely.

you can not call me on phone because i have no phone here but if you will like to speak to me on phone i will arrange with some one who will give me a phone number so you can call and talk to me, because i am staying at the female hostel.

Awaiting your urgent and positive response.Please do keep this only to your self please i beg you not to disclose it till i come over,once the fund has been transferred. my life picture will be attached and send to you

i await to receive positive respond directly on my private email address (xxx@yahoo.com)

Yours Sincerely,

Grace