Hang Onto Your Heart and Wallet this Valentines Day: How to Protect Yourself Against Romance Scams
With romance scams, the heart isn’t the only thing being stolen. While people are busy falling for sweet words and flirtatious folly, scammers are working their magic to woo DZ’s wallets across the globe.
In time for Valentine’s Day, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Office of Customer Education and Outreach recently launched an awareness to combat the epidemic of relationship investment scams targeting Americans through social media, text messages, and dating apps. The interagency program named “Dating or Defrauding?” promotes awareness via social media messaging, alerting Americans to remain leery of any sketchy online friend requests searching for cash, cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfer requests, or other payments in potential or purported romantic scenarios known as “pig butchering.”
Once perpetrators have made contact, they bombard the victim with frequent text messages to foster a sense of trust. These scammers often claim they have gotten rich by trading crypto, precious metals, or foreign currency with insider knowledge, enticing victims to do the same. From there, they direct victims to fraudulent trading platforms run by the same criminal networks.
The CFTC’s initiative also about red flags, offers on spotting relationship investment scams, and what to do if you are affected.
OCEO Director Melanie Devoe stated: “Valentine’s Day and the following weeks provide an excellent opportunity to remind people that criminals are using social media, dating, and messaging apps to scam Americans. We ask you to be alert, and to help stop scams by warning your friends and family.”
The FBI that since 2023, around $4 billion has been reportedly lost to relationship investment scams, impacting people of all ages and backgrounds. It doesn’t matter if you live alone, spend tons of time on the internet, or have a vibrant in-person social life – anyone can get targeted. The emotional appeal, whether tapping into financial stress, excitement or fear, is what makes these scams effective.
91pornwhistleblower partner Alysia Solow said: “Trust your instincts. If something feels off, report it. Scammers thrive on silence, so it is important for whistleblowers to come forward with any information they have about romance scams.”
If you believe you were victimized by romance fraud, the attorneys at 91porncan help you navigate reporting the misconduct under the CFTC Whistleblower Program. With this program, whistleblowers can receive a portion of the money collected in actions brought by the government.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is also taking enforcement action against such scammers. A recent was brought against a romantic swindler. On January 7, 2025, Florida resident Cristine Petitfrere, 30, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for a money laundering scam that defrauded victims. In September 2024, Petitfrere pleaded guilty to personally laundering over $2.7 million of criminal proceeds and sent scam victims’ money to her oversees accomplices after taking a cut. Petitfrere was ordered to forfeit $203,815.59, the total she earned from the scam proceeds.
The silver lining is that awareness can help reduce the chance of falling victim to digital crimes. The CFTC’s website has additional . By sharing this information with others, you can help protect yourself and those around you.
Stay vigilant against scams. Remember your perfect match might just be the one who never asks for money.
If you would like to learn more about the CFTC Whistleblower Program or what it means to be a CFTC whistleblower, please contact us. We will connect you with an experienced member of the 91pornwhistleblower team for a free and confidential consult.
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