Romance Scam Warning: Bear Valley Police Warn of Ongoing Fraud Cases
For Immediate Release
Bear Valley Police Department
25101 Bear Valley Road
(661) 821-3239
Romance Scam Warning: Bear Valley Police Warn of Ongoing Fraud Cases
The Bear Valley Police Department is investigating multiple high-dollar “Romance Scams” targeting local residents. Romance scams involve criminals creating fake profiles for dating sites or social media sites. They then attempt to strike up a relationship with their victims, sometimes talking on the phone or chatting online several times a day to build up trust. Once a certain level of trust is established, the scammers start asking for money to help with made-up “emergencies” or other situations where they need financial help. While every situation is different, there are some common tactics frequently seen in this scam:
• Scammers say they can’t meet you in person. They might say they’re living or traveling outside the country, working on an oil rig, in the military, or working with an international organization.
• Scammers will ask you for money. Once they gain your trust, they’ll ask for your help to pay medical expenses (for them or a family member), buy their ticket to visit you, pay for their visa, or help them pay fees to get them out of trouble. They may even offer to help you get started in cryptocurrency investing.
• Scammers will tell you how to pay. All scammers, not just romance scammers, want to get your money quickly. And they want your money in a way that makes it hard for you to get it back. They’ll tell you to wire money through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram, put money on gift cards (like Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, or Steam) and give them the PIN codes, send money through a money transfer app, or transfer cryptocurrency.
If you suspect a romance scam:
• Stop communicating with the person immediately.
• Talk to someone you trust. Do your friends or family say they’re concerned about your new love interest?
• Search online for the type of job the person has plus the word “scammer.” Have other people posted similar stories? For example, search for “oil rig scammer” or “US Army scammer.”
• Do a reverse image search of the person’s profile picture. Is it associated with another name or with details that don’t match up? Those are signs of a scam.
• Contact the Bear Valley Police Department non-emergency line, 661-861-3110. You can also come to our office, 25101 Bear Valley Road, from 8am to 4pm Monday-Friday.
Steps to Protect Yourself:
• Be careful what you post and make public online. Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
• Research the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.
• Go slowly and ask lots of questions.
• Beware if the individual seems too perfect or quickly asks you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.
• Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family or requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.
• Beware if the individual promises to meet in person but then always comes up with an excuse why he or she can’t. If you haven’t met the person after a few months, for whatever reason, you have good reason to be suspicious.
• Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.
Romance scammers are skilled manipulators. They often appear genuine, compassionate, and trustworthy — but it's all part of the con. Stay alert for warning signs, and don’t hesitate to ask for help if something feels off.
Again, to report a potential scam to the Bear Valley Police Department, contact our non-emergency line at 661-861-3110 or come to our office at 25101 Bear Valley Road.
Contact:
Jeff Lenk, Communications Specialist
661-805-7062
jlenk@bvcsd.org