đ€đ€ Valentineâs Day is tomorrow⊠and while love is in the air, so are scams. đ€đ€
Chocolate đ«
Roses đč
Romance đ
⊠and unfortunately, Romance Scams đž
Criminal actors prey on emotion. They build what feels like a genuine connection â sometimes over weeks or months â only to manipulate trust for financial gain.
They may:
* Ask for money for emergencies, travel, or medical needs
* Request gift cards or cryptocurrency
* Push for personal or financial information
* Create urgency to avoid verification
As someone who leads investigations daily, I can tell you â these cases are real, and they are devastating. The financial loss hurts, but the emotional betrayal cuts deeper.
đ How to Protect Yourself
â Never send money or gift cards to someone you havenât met in person.**
â Be cautious if someone quickly professes love or pushes for exclusivity.**
â Refuse requests to move conversations off reputable platforms immediately.**
â Verify photos using reverse image searches.**
â Talk to someone you trust before sending funds.**
If someone is pressuring you for secrecy or urgency â thatâs a red flag.
đĄ Education is protection.
Awareness is armor.
Stay sharp. Stay vigilant.
And protect your heart â emotionally and financially. đ€