Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reissuing her Romance Scams Consumer Alert as Valentine’s Day approaches to educate residents on common scams found on social media and dating apps. When performing a romance scam, fraudsters usually profess their love for their victims quickly and often claim to be in the military or working abroad to explain why they are unable to meet in person.

“Everyone wants to find their Valentine, but it’s so important to be careful when meeting that special someone online,” said Attorney General Nessel. “Before jumping in too quickly, remember to slow down and don’t let flattery rush you into sharing your hard-earned money with a stranger.”

Here are some tips for avoiding romance scams:

– Use reverse image search websites such as Google Images to see if their image shows up somewhere else.

– Never agree to open a bank account or re-ship goods sent to you.

– Do not send money, prepaid gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to someone you met online.

– Communicate only through the specific app and avoid giving out personal phone numbers or email addresses.

– If someone appears on your social media and rushes you to start a friendship or romance, slow down and talk to someone you trust before responding.

If you believe you’ve been a victim, contact the Department of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team: