As romance scams hit an all-time high, Fair Trading has launched a new campaign reminding online love seekers to think with their heads and not their hearts.
Minister for Better Regulation, Kevin Anderson said that in 2020 Australians were conned out of $37 million through romance scams, a $9 million increase on the year before.
“We Aussies are romantics at heart but as there’s usually a spike in scams around Valentine’s Day, you’ve got to use your head when it comes to online romances,” Mr Anderson said.
“This campaign is about calling out the signs and signals that something could be off, before the scammer gets their hands on your dollars,” he said.
Mr Anderson said the Fair Trading campaign sought to highlight the dangers of online romance scams, including warning signs to be aware of, and simple steps consumers could take to protect themselves.
“Alarm bells should be ringing if the relationship seems to be moving too fast, for example, if someone’s telling you they love you after one conversation, or if their story seems a bit farfetched or unrealistic,” the Minister said.
“Ultimately, if something feels a bit off, it probably is,” he said.
Mr Anderson said data gathered by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) showed dating websites and social media to be the most common hunting grounds for scammers, with those aged between 45 and 64 the most affected.
