A form of fraud in which the offender creates a fake identity, often using a stolen or fabricated photograph and profile, to establish a romantic relationship with a victim through a dating platform, social media, or direct messaging, with the goal of gaining the victim's trust and affection before requesting money, typically through a fabricated emergency, a supposed travel or customs expense, or a purported investment opportunity. The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center has documented romance scams as consistently among the costliest categories of internet fraud by total reported victim losses, disproportionately affecting older adults, and a related, closely documented variant sometimes called pig butchering combines the initial romance scam relationship with a later fraudulent cryptocurrency or trading investment scheme.
Facts
Partially Attested
Notable ExampleRaymond Fernandez and Martha Beck (the Lonely Hearts Killers) 1 The page names the pair only under Cultural references, as "The Lonely Hearts Killers"; it does not state the scale of their scams. Elements of OffenseFeigning romantic intentions towards a victim, gaining the victim's affection, and then using that goodwill to get the victim to send money 1 Classification
Offense GradeSerious or Indictable Offense 1 Sources
1. Romance scam (Wikipedia)
Introduction
feigning romantic intentions towards a victim, gaining the victim's affection, and then using that goodwill to get the victim to send money
Cultural references
Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck
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