🚨 Potential Warning Signs
If someone you meet online suddenly approaches you, quickly expresses romantic interest, or constantly tries to develop a close relationship with you, it could be a romance scam.
⚠ Common Scenarios
- They send you a friend request first.
- They claim to be a doctor, military officer, engineer, or business owner.
- They quickly say they like you or want to take care of you.
- They refuse to have video calls or meet in person.
- They ask you to switch to private conversations on LINE or WhatsApp.
- They eventually start talking about money, investments, or gifts.
❌ Do Not
- Do not trust their claimed identity too quickly.
- Do not share your personal information, identification documents, or banking details.
- Do not transfer money, purchase gift cards, or invest.
- Do not send intimate photos or videos.
✅ What You Should Do
✔ Use Google to search for their photos.
✔ Check their name, phone number, and account information.
✔ Ask a friend to help you assess the situation.
✔ If they start asking for money, stop communicating with them and keep all relevant records.
🚨 Potential Warning Signs
If someone you meet online claims to have sent you a gift, but later tells you that the gift is being held at customs and asks you to pay customs duties, processing fees, or shipping fees, it is likely a scam.
⚠ Common Scenarios
- They claim to have sent you an expensive gift.
- Someone claiming to represent a delivery company or customs office contacts you.
- They ask you to pay customs duties, storage fees, or processing fees upfront.
- They threaten that you will be fined if you do not pay.
- They keep pressuring you to transfer money immediately, often insisting that you pay today.
❌ Do Not
- Do not transfer money to the person.
- Do not trust unfamiliar delivery company accounts.
- Do not provide your bank account details or identification documents.
- Do not pay just because someone claims the gift is “very expensive.”
✅ What You Should Do
✔ Stop making payments.
✔ Check whether the delivery company actually exists.
✔ Do not click on suspicious links.
✔ Keep chat records, payment information, and the other person’s account details.
✔ Ask someone you trust to help you verify whether the situation is genuine.