Don’t look for love in all the wrong places

Don’t look for love in all the wrong places

Attorney General says scammers seek money not love on dating apps

Amanda.Priest@arkansasag.gov

LITTLE ROCK – With Valentine’s Day having just passes, it’s pertinent to point out that the online dating game is another opportunity for scam artists to take advantage of Arkansans putting their heart and money on the line to find love. Con artists are using dating apps, often pretending to be someone they aren’t, with false pictures and information, to get the attention of others with the intent of stealing money from the kind-hearted people they meet on these sites.

“Arkansans should have the opportunity to meet new people without the fear of someone taking advantage of them and their wallets,” said Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “On dating sites, Arkansans must be cautious and keep personal information private. Con artists know how to play on emotions to convince people they need help when they are only wanting to steal money and identities to open credit accounts.”

Attorney General Rutledge released the following tips for social media users:

• It’s called personal information for a reason— keep it to yourself!

• Do not give out personal information such as addresses and telephone numbers.

• Consider speaking by telephone before meeting in person, and when meeting in person, make plans to meet new people in a public venue, or bring a friend.

• Don’t post any information that would let someone know you are away on vacation or your house is empty. Posting about being out of town for a few days could make someone a likely target for thieves.

• Don’t post any information that can lead hackers to passwords for online banking or other accounts.

For example, common questions for those who have forgotten their passwords for financial or other sites include: “What’s your mother’s maiden name?”

or “What’s your favorite pet?” Criminals may be able to find those answers easily on social networking sites.

*** It’s also tax season again, and Attorney General Rutledge cautions taxpayers that scammers are posing as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents and sending emails with fake tax bills and transcripts to Arkansans. These malicious emails often include an attachment that is not a document from the IRS but rather something harmful that will infect the user’s computer with vicious malware once it is opened. The email may even threaten Arkansans with arrest if payment is not received immediately using a gift card, prepaid debit card or wire transfer.

“The IRS will never send unsolicited emails or accept payment from a prepaid gift card or wire transfer,” said Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “This scam to dupe Arkansans out of their hard-earned money, or steal their personal information, is just one more shameful attempt by criminals to line their own pockets.”

For more information and tips to avoid scams and other consumer-related issues, contact the Arkansas Attorney General’s office at (800) 482-8982 or consumer@arkansasag.

gov or visit ArkansasAG.

gov or facebook.com/ AGLeslieRutledge.

By Amanda Priest