In the first months of 2022, EUR 932,604 in damage was reported in the Netherlands due to the consequences of fraud in dating apps. 71 Victims reported to the Fraud Helpdesk in the first five months of the year.
Dating Fraud
In recent months, more attention has been paid to the consequences of phishing and fraud on WhatsApp, but you can also lose a lot of money through dating fraud. This is evident from figures that the researchers of pointer requested from the Fraud Helpdesk.
There were 71 reports to the Fraud Helpdesk this year, for an average of 13,000 euros in damage per report. The total amount captured by criminals up to and including the month of May is 932,604 euros.
That’s how it works
In dating fraud, the scammer poses as an ideal partner who immediately falls in love with the victim. As soon as a relationship of trust is established, the malicious person asks for money from the victim in whatever way. Money that victims will never see again afterwards.
Last year the average amount per claim was 31,000 euros. According to the Fraud Helpsdesk, the total damage is highly dependent on very large fraud cases and victims who have been defrauded for tens of thousands of euros. The total damage could therefore be much higher by the end of the year if even more serious victims come forward.
Combination investment fraud
According to the Fraud Helpdesk, investment fraud of all forms of fraud caused the highest claims last year. This form is also more common in combination with dating apps, when a potential partner convinces the victim to invest in stocks or crypto. He pretends to be a wealthy expert, but then he runs off with the money.
- Read more about online fraud
Recently, the Dutch police, together with European colleagues, managed to roll up a phishing network: the FluBot malware that was active on Android. Are you concerned about forms of online fraud? Let us know in the comments.
– Thanks for information from Androidworld. Source