On-Line Dating Fraud

Recently, I saw a link to an article about on-line dating fraud [cnn.com].


The jist of it is that there is a growing problem with people finding suckers on the internet, form what the victim thinks is a deep, loving relationship, and then convince the victim to send them money. Here's a quote from the article:

"Barb Sluppick runs RomanceScams.org, a Web site dedicated to helping victims of romance fraud, like herself. She said the site has had more than 30,000 members since its start in June 2005.

"The number of broken hearts aside, romance fraud costs victims millions of dollars each year. Of her 30,000 members, Sluppick said, 883 people have reported their financial losses. They add up to $8,244,800.05, she said."

I was actually fascinated when reading the article. Just another reason why I would never be a good criminal -- I just don't have the creativity to come up with an idea like this.

On the other hand, I think that it is surprising that it is so easy to convince people to send money to a person they have never met in real life.

Picture courtesy of Thomas Hawk's Flickr photostream [flickr.com].