Romance scams prey on an individual’s desire for companionship and occur when imposters pose as a person seeking love on dating sites, social media or even in person in an attempt to gain trust—and ultimately swindle unsuspecting sweethearts.
As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, scammers may attempt to trick those seeking companionship into thinking they have found their soulmates. Remember to guard your heart, as well as your wallet, when meeting new people or seeking a romantic relationship.
Some tips that will help you guard against these malicious scammers include: asking detailed questions when meeting someone new online; seeking the opinion of trusted friends and family members; conducting a reverse image search to see whether the image of a love interest is connected to any other accounts under different names or with different information; and never establishing a joint bank account with a new sweetheart, or providing access to existing accounts.
This week, I issued a Consumer Alert and a new Scams at a Glance brochure, titled Swindling Sweethearts, detailing information and resources on romance scams. To view the Consumer Alert, click here.
To view the Scams at a Glance: Swindling Sweethearts brochure, click here.
Anyone who encounters a romance scam, or any other type of fraud, can file a complaint with my office at MyFloridaLegal.com or by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM.
I hope your Valentine’s Day weekend is a joyous occasion, but if it turns out that a new love connection is only interested in stealing your money, report the romance scammer and help us build a Stronger, Safer Florida.
In The News
ROMANCE SCAMS: Guarding your heart and wallet this Valentine’s Day, Action News Jax
Attorney General Ashley Moody issues consumer alert ahead of Valentine’s Day, WCTV Tallahassee
Florida Attorney General Warns About Online Romance Scams, NBC 6 South Florida
Deadline for consumer refund in Monat legal action approaching, ABC 7 Sarasota
Florida gets $40M from company that marketed opioids, Hometown News Brevard
Protecting Floridians
Deadline Approaches to File Claim for Consumer Refund in Monat Global Corp. Action
Attorney General Ashley Moody is urging eligible consumers to claim monetary refunds from Monat Global Corp. before the fast approaching deadline. Refunds are available as a result of action taken by Attorney General Moody’s Consumer Protection Division regarding the cosmetics company, Monat, involving allegations of deceptive and unfair trade practices. As a result of the action, refunds may be available for consumers who were misled by the company’s advertising and marketing practices. Eligible consumers must submit claims to the Florida Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by Feb. 13.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Consumers deserve, and should expect, full transparency from businesses when purchasing any product or service. It is extremely frustrating and unacceptable for businesses to exploit consumers through calculated deceptive advertising and dubious sales tactics. I am proud of my Consumer Protection Team for securing refunds for the many consumers who were impacted by this company’s practices.
“If you believe you were a victim of a deceptive or unfair business practice by Monat, I encourage you to contact my office before the Feb. 13 deadline. You may be eligible for a refund.” Read More