GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — The voice breaks at times, and it’s kind of hard to hear exactly what she’s saying, but the voice of an unnamed Green Bay woman who was allegedly held captive for four months in the Dominican Republic by a man she had met online has been heard by thousands. While she’s said to be ok, experts say the situation serves as a reminder of the dangers of online dating.
While the woman’s situation is a good example of the worst that can happen, online dating does not present a purely physical danger. Wisconsin Trade and Consumer Protection Administrator Lara Sutherlin says romance scams have targeted people across the country through dating websites and social media.
“Romance scammers and sex traffickers will use these websites to find victims,” Sutherlin told WTAQ. “They will look at your profile, try to figure our ways to connect with you, and try to gain your trust.”
Most of these scammers are based overseas, and their goals can vary wildly. Susan Bach with the Better Business Bureau says they’re not just after money.
“It could be an identity theft scheme, it could be a scheme to steal money from you,” Bach said Wednesday. “Or they could be grooming you to be a money mule or a co-conspirator.”
Bach says it’s not unusual for romance scammers to ask their victims to send them money for plane tickets, ask them to open bank accounts, or purchase gift cards for them.
In 2018, the Federal Trade Commission reported that Americans lost $143 million to romance scams. The median reported loss was $2,600, and, for people over 70, it was $10,000.
It’s difficult to know exactly who has fallen for a romance scam or who could be in an online romance with someone who isn’t who they say they are. Sutherlin says a lot of people are too embarrassed to report the incident. She says anyone can be a target.
“I certainly think sophisticated people and lonely people can be the victims of romance scams,” Sutherlin said. “You also see elderly people targeted more, or someone who has recently gone through a divorce, or lost a child, or lost a loved one, a widow. People who are particularly lonely…or at a critical time in their life. Often times people like that are more susceptible.”
Not sure if the person you’re talking with is legitimate? There are some key red flags to look out for, and some common lies scammers like to use to get access to your money.
“These scammers will always have some reason why they can’t talk to you over the phone, usually they’re trying to hide some foreign accent or that they don’t have a good grasp of the english language,” Bach said. “If they’re in a big hurry to get off the online dating sites, like eHarmony or Match, they’ll want to start emailing–that’s because they know those websites are monitoring them, so they’re trying to move you off that site so they don’t get caught.”
If an online fling seems to be advancing faster than you’re comfortable with, that’s another warning.
“If they start talking about a future together or that they love you way too soon,” said Bach. “That’s a huge red flag.”
Green Bay Police Commander Kevin Warych says a little common sense can go a long way when it comes to dealing with people you’ve never met online.
“The general rule of thumb is that if something just doesn’t seem right, or something seems suspicious, odds are there’s something not right,” Warych.said.
The potential for danger in meeting people online escalates if they do end up asking to meet you in real life. There are ways to avoid the worst possible scenarios, whether it’s while visiting an overseas love interest, a job interview or if you’re trying to sell a Kitchenaid on Facebook Marketplace.
“If you choose to meet someone online at a different location or out of the country you have to have a plan, you have to go with a person that you trust so that they can be your eyes and ears,” Warych advised. “Take more of a systematic approach…have your family know exactly where you are, know where your phone is in case it needs to be pinged if someone needs to find you.”
The woman rescued in the Dominican Republic was found only after a three-hour long ordeal that began when she contacted Brown County dispatchers on a non-emergency line. Dispatchers managed to contact the US Embassy, who mobilized local authorities to bring the woman in. She’s still reported to be in the Dominican Republic and is working on getting home.
