Sweetheart scammers aim for older women on dating websites

Thoughtful overview piece here from The New York Times on how sweetheart scammers target older women on dating websites for success.

Reporter Elizabeth Olson relates the stories of several women who were taken by swindlers who patiently endeared themselves to their targets, professed their devotion and then cleverly claimed hardships that sapped the money of their victims.

It's a well-worn global story line that costs victims millions a year. Says the story:

Many of those targeted are women, especially women in their 50s and 60s, often retired and living alone, who say that the email and phone wooing forms a bond that may not be physical but that is intense and enveloping. How many people are snared by Internet romance fraud is unclear, but between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2014, nearly 6,000 people registered complaints of such confidence fraud with losses of $82.3 million, according to the federal Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Older people are ideal targets because they often have accumulated savings over a lifetime, own their homes and are susceptible to being deceived by someone intent on fraud. Most victims say they are embarrassed to admit what happened, and they fear that revealing it will bring derision from their family and friends, who will question their judgment and even their ability to handle their own financial affairs.

Check out the story for more insights on scammers, and see the InspectaDate Safety Tips page for ways to avoid them.