{"id":135657,"date":"2016-02-19T18:11:07","date_gmt":"2016-02-19T08:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=135657"},"modified":"2020-10-22T13:00:38","modified_gmt":"2020-10-22T03:00:38","slug":"22-7m-lost-to-dating-scams-in-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/02\/19\/22-7m-lost-to-dating-scams-in-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"$22.7m Lost To Dating Scams In 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The ACCC has warned Australians to be wary about online dating after 2620 Australians lost almost $23 million last year through online dating scams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 19, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has warning people using online dating sites to watch out for any love interest that asks for money.<\/p>\n

Last year, 2,620 Australians reported losing almost $23 million to dating and romance scams to the ACCC.<\/p>\n

“Romance scams continue to cause significant emotional and financial harm to the community. We know these figures are only the tip of the iceberg as many victims are reluctant to admit to friends, family or authorities that they fell for a scam,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.<\/p>\n

“Scammers are experts at preying on people\u2019s weaknesses and will spend months and even years grooming victims and lowering their defences.<\/p>\n

“Inevitably, the fraudster will spin a tall tale about why they suddenly need your financial help, ranging from medical emergencies to failed business ventures to needing to rebook flights to visit you.<\/p>\n

“Once victims realise that their admirer is actually a criminal, the emotional consequences can be devastating. This is why disrupting relationship scams continues to be a priority for the ACCC,” Ms Rickard said.<\/p>\n

The ACCC’s Scam Disruption Project has sent over 6,000 letters asking individuals who sent money to high risk juridictions to reconsider sending money offshore. <\/strong><\/p>\n

75 per cent of those people who received these letters ceased sending money for at least six weeks.<\/p>\n

“Nearly one quarter of reported romance scams originate on social media, in particular Facebook,” Ms Rickard said.<\/p>\n

“The ACCC is looking to work with social media platforms to keep romance scammers off their sites and to help users recognise when they are being scammed.”<\/p>\n

The ACCC has updated best practice guidelines to assist the online dating industry to combat scams.<\/p>\n

The revised version of the guidelines aims to address the evolving nature of online scams and provide the latest advice. Sites that take steps to implement these guidelines create a safer online environment for their customers.<\/p>\n

“The ACCC now seeks the continued cooperation of industry in implementing the revised guidelines and encourages their adoption by any dating site that has not yet taken steps to protect their users from scammers,” Ms Rickard said.<\/p>\n

“If online dating sites don’t have advice about safe dating practices, then consumers should carefully consider whether those sites have their best interests at heart.”<\/p>\n

Scamwatch tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n