I have been watching a new series on Hulu on Romance scams - Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam. As I am watching this series it reminds me of teh Tinder Swindler.

What perplexes me is that people are afraid to meet in person, over a quick cofee or drink at a public place but there are enough people in the world that are willing to "fall" for someone online and never meeting that person or havinga video chat with that person and then agree to send that person money - Seriously? Yes I have had people ask me to send them gas money to meet (they always start off with a small amount to send them), have aksed me to sign onto other sites, or other APPS like WhatsApp and I never do, once they ask I immediatley block abnd repoort them and YOU should do the same.

Here is more information on this scam and where youy can report this to the authorites:

Romance scams involve criminals creating fake online identities to gain victims' trust and affection, ultimately manipulating them into sending money, cryptocurrency, or personal information. These scammers often operate on dating apps and social media, creating "too good to be true" scenarios and avoiding in-person meetings. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Common Red Flags & Tactics

• Rapid Affection: Scammers profess love quickly, aiming to establish a deep emotional connection early.
• The "Never Meet" Promise: They create elaborate excuses (e.g., working on oil rigs, military, doctor, international projects) to avoid meeting in person.
• Requests for Funds: Common excuses for needing money include, medical emergencies, hospital bills, travel expenses, or investment opportunities, particularly in cryptocurrency.

Using Fake Photos/AI: Scammers may use AI-generated images or stolen photos to build their profile.

Steps to Take If Targeted

Stop All Contact: Cease communication immediately.

1. Report the Scam: File a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
2. Notify Platforms: Report the profile to the social media site or dating app used.
3. Contact Financial Institutions: Alert your bank to secure accounts and try to stop transactions.
4. Use Reverse Image Search: Search profile pictures to see if they belong to someone else.

Yikes, the stuff I am running into now is enough for me to go back into hiding!!!

I have been approaced on Match from Transwomen, married women and marrired traveling men to meet and date and YET my profile specifically is "man looking for women" for "intentional dating" for a LTR. Oh, and the women that are still very angry about their divorces. Run Forest Run!!

Things appear to have gotten worse with trying to chat and meet someone these days and when you are lucky enough to meet them the challenges are comical, in so many ways - are they married? still live at home? have kids at home? ...and more. Yes, I will continue to do what I can to meet people until I find that "special" person.