FEBRUARY 12, 2025|
Photo – Scam awareness ad – Courtesy US Postal Service
The United States Postal Service and local law enforcement are warning residents to be on the lookout for online romance scams ahead of Valentine’s Day.
Earlier in the week, the United States Postal Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service issued a notice about the danger of romance scams.
The US Postal Service reported that scammers create fake identities online, often using stolen photos and fictitious personal details. Over the course of several weeks or months, the scammer will try to cultivate an online relationship with a victim through social media, dating apps, or email.
Once trust is established, the scammer will fabricate urgent financial needs, such as medical emergencies, travel expenses, or business problems, to solicit money from the victim. The victims are pressured into sending cash, checks, wire transfers, or gift cards, which can make recovery difficult once the fraudulent nature of the call is detected.
Rawlins Police Chief Mike Ward said to use common sense before beginning an online relationship. The person on the other end of the text message or email is unlikely to be who they claim and is more likely a criminal scammer.
Chief Ward said to be careful when communicating online with someone you don’t personally know. The anonymity provided by social media allows scammers to impersonate anyone to gain access to their victims.
Chief Ward said criminals engaged in online romance scams are not interested in having a relationship with the victim. The scammers are simply doing whatever it takes to trick the victim into sending them money.
The Postal Service offers tips to prevent yourself from becoming the victim of an online romance scam.
First, be cautious about online relationships that develop quickly, especially if the individual avoids in-person meetings or video calls.
Next, look for inconsistencies in the person’s profile and the information they share and always keep your personal information private.
Also, never send money, checks, gift cards, or personal finance information to someone you haven’t met in person. You should be suspicious of requests for secrecy or urgent financial help.
Chief Ward encouraged residents to be on the lookout for other types of scams as well. One particularly effective scam involves criminals fraudulently using the local police department’s phone number to call victims and inform them that the Internal Revenue Service has issued a warrant for their arrest. The scammer will then attempt to extort money from the victim.
Chief Ward said that no police department will ever call a person and demand payment over the phone.
With Valentine’s Day almost here, the US Postal Service is warning people to be especially vigilant against romance scams and not to send money or valuables through the mail.
US Postal Inspection Service Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale wrote, “Protecting the sanctity and integrity of the mail is our top priority. This includes protecting customers from mail-related crimes, including fraudulent schemes like romance scams. Public awareness is critical in stopping these criminals before they cause harm.”
Rawlins Police Chief Ward said to contact your local law enforcement agency if you believe you’ve been the victim of a scam. Even if the police are unable to catch the culprit, they may prevent the scammer from targeting additional victims.
You also can report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Links to these resources will be included with this story when it is posted to the Bigfoot99 website later today.
Federal Trade Commission Fraud Reporting Website: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/?orgcode=USPS
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: https://www.ic3.gov/
