What it is and what parents can do to help prevent and stop it

Not long ago, making prank calls was the worst trouble a group of teens could get into with a telephone.

But today, predators use phones to stalk and blackmail teens on social media and dating apps. Sextortion — the act of threatening to share nude or explicit images — is more common than you may think, and cases affecting young children, teens and adults have increased exponentially in the past two years. In fact, Homeland Security Investigations received over 3,000 sextortion tips in fiscal year 2022.

One current sextortion trend targets boys between 14 and 17 years old. Adult predators pretending to be young girls feign romantic interest in the boys on gaming platforms, apps and social media sites.

It starts simply enough: A teen responds to an online request to expose parts of their body on a webcam or send a nude photo to a new online “friend.” The next thing the teen knows, their new friend threatens to expose them by publicizing the photos — unless they pose for more explicit photos or send money.

In some schemes, adult predators deceive and manipulate young males into engaging in explicit activity over video, which the predator secretly records. The predator then reveals that they’ve made the recording and threatens to post clips online if the victim doesn’t pay up.

This terrifying and dehumanizing violation feeds on victims’ shame. The emotional results for victims — especially kids — is devastating. Feeling embarrassed, hopeless and isolated, many of these teens have nowhere to turn. Some even go so far as to take their own lives without knowing that help is available.

Traditional sextortion versus financial sextortion

Traditional sextortion occurs when a victim is threatened or blackmailed into providing more sexual imagery; the predator threatens to share their nude or sexual images with the public. Financial sextortion occurs when a predator demands money or gift cards in exchange for keeping their sexual images private.

In a recent analysis by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, or NCMEC, financial sextortion is on the rise. Currently, as many as 79% of predators seek money rather than additional sexual imagery. NCMEC is one of HSI’s most valued partners in the fight against sextortion. HSI also collaborates with other law enforcement partners to bring sextortionists to justice.

Sextortion’s red flags

The skilled, ruthless individuals carrying out this crime have honed their techniques and approaches to maximize their chances of success. The following are some common tactics these predators use to entice victims:

Developing a false rapport with the victim

Secretly recording explicit videos and messages during chats

Using multiple identities to contact the child

Pretending to be younger or a member of the opposite sex

Hacking accounts to steal sexual images

Threatening to commit suicide if the victim refuses to send images

Visiting public social media profiles to find out more about the victim, including accessing the victim’s friend list and searching for other personal information that may harm their victim’s reputation

What sextortion looks like

In their initial contact with a young person, predators often send friend requests and approach teens with compliments or flattery; they may also promise a romantic relationship. They start what appear to be genuine conversations to strike up close friendships with their victims. Sometimes these criminals offer children something they value, such as the possibility of a modeling contract; online game credits or codes; or money, cryptocurrency and gift cards in exchange for a “quick picture.” Some even hack into computers to unearth sensitive material.

These predators then threaten to expose the material if the victim refuses to comply with their demands. They may also threaten victims by falsely claiming that they already have explicit photos that they intend to distribute, or they may threaten to harm the victim, other people, or things the victim cares about.

These criminals commonly make first contact with a victim on one platform, then ask them to move to a second or third platform that uses encrypted messaging to make tracking their crimes more difficult.

Sextortionists record and preserve entire chats and videos. They may also visit public social media profiles to find out more about their victims, combing through friend lists and gleaning other personal information that may harm their target’s reputation.

How you can help sextortion victims

How exploitive images are removed | NCMEC Responding to Changing Online Threats

If you or someone you care about is a sextortion victim, you can help HSI stop the harassment and arrest the criminal while getting the support you need, including removing explicit online images by doing the following:

Reporting sextortion, before it happens to someone else. One sextortion CyberTip helped HSI identify and help 30 victims. If someone threatens to share explicit images of you, they’re likely also threatening friends or others you know.

Saving all conversations, chats or messages between the predator and the victim.

Refusing to pay or send more images, which actually makes things worse.

HSI’s special agents work tirelessly around the world with a victim-centered approach to protect children from exploitation. In fiscal year 2021, HSI arrested 3,776 individuals for perpetrating crimes against children and rescued or identified 1,177 child victims of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Where to get help

Don’t Share – Help is Here | National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Sextortion

Sextortion is illegal. If you or someone you know is a victim, help is available.

NCMEC is the nation’s largest and most influential child protection organization leading the fight to protect children. It maintains a multitude of resources for kids and the people who keep them safe.

NCMEC’s CyberTipline (CyberTipline.org) gives the public and electronic service providers the ability to report suspected child sexual exploitation, including sextortion and online enticement. After NCMEC completes its review of a tip it receives, it compiles a report that becomes available to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

For families with a missing or sexually exploited child, NCMEC provides support services such as crisis intervention and local counseling referrals. Its Team HOPE program connects families with peers who have had similar experiences and can offer compassion and teach coping skills.

NCMEC’s digital citizenship and safety program, NetSmartz, is an innovative educational program that utilizes games, animated videos, classroom-based lesson plans, activities and much more to empower children to make safer choices online. This program addresses the issue of sextortion in age-appropriate ways while providing educators, school resources officers, counselors and others who work with children with videos, discussion guides and display posters.

Learn more at MissingKids.org/NetSmartz/Sextortion

Your best defenses against sextortion

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Transcript LISTEN | Houston Public Media’s Ernie Manouse talks with experts and victim families about what sextortion is and why parents need to know about their child’s online activity The dissemination or use of the link does not constitute or imply an endorsement by DHS, ICE, or HSI regarding NPR, or any of their products or services.

Open lines of communication are the best defense against sextortion. The embarrassment children feel from falling victim to these schemes often prevents them from coming forward to a parent, teacher, caregiver or law enforcement, so a single sextortion offender may have hundreds of undiscovered victims around the world. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to have conversations with their children early on regarding their online activity.

You can help protect your kids against sextortion by using the following tips:

Be a safe space. Your children may be embarrassed, but you should have an open dialogue with them before they’re exposed to sextortion. Let them know you have their backs if something happens in the future.

Consider limiting your children’s internet use or spot-check their phones and other devices. Keep tabs on the people your children are communicating with; this can be part of an open and ongoing conversation about what is (and isn’t) appropriate online. It also may be worth considering a rule against devices in bedrooms overnight or shutting off Wi-Fi access after a certain time.

Review your child’s social media privacy settings. Keeping accounts private can prevent predators from gathering their personal information.

Keep the door open. Let them know they can come to you and ask for help, and that helping will always be your top priority. These predators are powerful because of fear, and their victims suffer ever more negative consequences as the crime carries on over days, weeks and months. If you’re the adult a child trusts with this information, you should comfort them, help them understand they have been the victim of a crime, and help them report it to law enforcement.

Being cautious, aware and educated about online scams can help prevent victimization. With the amount of time people spend on the internet steadily increasing, now is the best time to learn preventive measures and spread awareness.

The following tips can also help ensure online safety:

Online disinformation

Online disinformation Online disinformation is designed to trigger an emotional response. If it raises your eyebrows, it should raise questions.

Disinformation is false information that is deliberately intended to mislead. It is sometimes called “fake news”.

How disinformation harms you

Most of us make decisions about our lives based on information we find online. Those decisions may be about our health, our finances, or other issues affecting our families and communities.

When we base our decisions on bad information, the choices we make may not be in our best interests.

Confusion

Disinformation makes it harder to find factual content you can trust.

Even if you don’t believe it, disinformation can create doubt and confusion. It can cause you to delay making important decisions that could affect your wellbeing.

Disinformation can continue to influence your beliefs even after you find out something is not true.

Health

Disinformation is particularly harmful when it concerns our health.

COVID-19 disinformation According to Statistics Canada, 96% of Canadians who found COVID-19 information online saw content they suspected was false. The Canadian Council of Academies estimates that misinformation about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines cost at least 2,800 lives in Canada in just 9 months. Anti-vaccine information is often spread by individuals who believe it to be true. However, it is also spread by threat actors, including foreign states, to deliberately deceive and divide people.

Health scams Disinformation about health and wellness products often appears as sponsored posts on social media or as pop-up ads on websites. According to the Competition Bureau, the three most common types of health scam are: miracle cures

weight-loss programs

fake online pharmacies This kind of disinformation can harm you because: you lose money paying for “treatments” that do not work

you are less likely to seek qualified medical help

the bogus products may in fact harm your health

Money

Financial disinformation causes harm in various ways.

Bad investments If you make financial decisions based on false information, you can lose your money to bad investments or scams. For example, in so-called pump and dump schemes, fraudsters buy a large amount of stock, spread disinformation to boost the price, then sell it off, crashing the price. Investors who believe the hype are left holding stock that is worth a lot less than they paid for it.

Cryptocurrency scams According to the Competition Bureau, Canadians lost over $300 million to investment fraud in 2022. Many of those victims had fallen prey to deceptive ads on social media urging them to invest in cryptocurrency scams. Some scams use fake celebrity endorsements to convince people to hand over their money. For example, criminals have used deepfakes of Elon Musk to trick people into cryptocurrency investment scams. Source: Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Deepfakes: A real threat to a Canadian future

Democracy

Successful democracies rely on:

confidence in key institutions

trust and cooperation between citizens

a shared understanding of basic facts

Disinformation can damage each of these by attacking, polarizing, and misinforming people. At its worst, disinformation can lead to political harassment, hate and violence.

Disinformation is also used by foreign states seeking to threaten the integrity of our elections and undermine confidence in the results.

Find out more about who is creating disinformation and why.

Tips and tools to spot disinformation

Disinformation can be hard to spot. These tips and tools can help you figure out if something you see online is true or not.

Look out for emotional red flags

Disinformation is designed to trigger your emotions. Shock, anger, fear and laughter all make us more likely to share content with others.

Emotional red flags include content that:

triggers an emotional response

makes a bold statement on a controversial issue

makes an extraordinary claim

seems too good to be true

contains clickbait like “You won’t believe this video!”

If something you come across online really hits a nerve, consider doing a quick fact-check before sharing it with others.

Use fact-checking tools and services

MediaSmarts offers these 4 tips to check if something is true online:

Use fact-checking tools: See if a professional fact-checker has already debunked the story.

Fact-checking tools:

MediaSmarts Fact search AFP Fact Check Snopes

See if a professional fact-checker has already debunked the story. Fact-checking tools: Find the source: Check the link to see who is responsible for publishing the information.

Check the link to see who is responsible for publishing the information. Verify the source: Check Google or Wikipedia to see if the source is real and if it has a good reputation.

Check Google or Wikipedia to see if the source is real and if it has a good reputation. Check other sources: Do a search to see if other news outlets are reporting the same story.

Do a reverse image search

A reverse image search can reveal if an image has been altered or copied from elsewhere on the internet.

To reverse search an image, copy the image, or the image’s URL into the search bar of an image search tool.

Search results will show if the image appears in other locations on the internet.

Image search tools:

Spot spoof websites

Fake news stories can be posted on fraudulent websites that are made to look legitimate. This is called spoofing.

These tips can help you spot a spoof:

Do a Google search for the organization and follow the link. Does it go to the same place?

for the organization and follow the link. Does it go to the same place? Check the Wikipedia page for the organization. Does the information match?

for the organization. Does the information match? Perform a WHOIS lookup on the web address to see who owns it, and when it was registered.

WHOIS lookup tools: For websites ending in .ca For websites ending in .com

on the web address to see who owns it, and when it was registered. WHOIS lookup tools:

Spot fake social media accounts

Disinformation is often spread using fake social media accounts. The Better Business Bureau recommends these tips for spotting fakes:

Check the profile photo. Do a reverse image search to see if the profile photo has been copied from somewhere else online.

Do a reverse image search to see if the profile photo has been copied from somewhere else online. Look for recycled images. Fake accounts often fill their feeds with stock images and memes. If there are no original photos, you may be dealing with a fake.

Fake accounts often fill their feeds with stock images and memes. If there are no original photos, you may be dealing with a fake. Look for typos. Many spelling or grammar mistakes can be signs of a fake account.

Many spelling or grammar mistakes can be signs of a fake account. Look at the account profile. Is it very new? Does it contain details about the person? If not, be wary.

Is it very new? Does it contain details about the person? If not, be wary. Look for the verified badge. Some social media platforms have a verified badge, like the blue check on Instagram. If the person you want to follow is famous or influential, look for the verified badge on their profile.

Some social media platforms have a verified badge, like the blue check on Instagram. If the person you want to follow is famous or influential, look for the verified badge on their profile. Look at the engagements. Account owners can buy fake engagement. If the comments seem random, contain only emojis, or all come from one person, the engagement may be artificial.

Account owners can buy fake engagement. If the comments seem random, contain only emojis, or all come from one person, the engagement may be artificial. Look at the follower-to-engagement ratio. Account owners can also buy followers. If an account has thousands of followers with very little engagement, it’s likely fake.

Account owners can also buy followers. If an account has thousands of followers with very little engagement, it’s likely fake. Beware of polarized political opinions. If an account posts only one-sided political views, and never reveals information about the person posting, it may be a fake intending to mislead.

Source: Better Business Bureau, How to Spot a Fake Social Media Account

Counter disinformation

You’ve fact-checked a piece of online content and discovered that it is false. What next?

Don’t share it: You don’t have to do anything at all. Just by not sharing false content you are helping to stop the spread of online disinformation.

If you do choose to take action, consider these 4 tips from MediaSmarts.

Ask a question: Asking a question can be almost as effective as correcting false information. If you don’t want to do this publicly, you can send a private message. Try saying: “Are you sure?” or “Is that source reliable?”.

Asking a question can be almost as effective as correcting false information. If you don’t want to do this publicly, you can send a private message. Try saying: “Are you sure?” or “Is that source reliable?”. Correct it: You can correct false information by giving accurate information instead. Make sure your information is from a reliable source and be sure to show where it came from. You don’t have to repeat the bad information or tell anyone they are wrong. Just share accurate information that shows the facts.

You can correct false information by giving accurate information instead. Make sure your information is from a reliable source and be sure to show where it came from. You don’t have to repeat the bad information or tell anyone they are wrong. Just share accurate information that shows the facts. Debunk it: If you can clearly show that the information is false, you can debunk it by saying it’s wrong and showing why. Don’t link to the false information or the original social media post. Use a screenshot instead.

If you can clearly show that the information is false, you can debunk it by saying it’s wrong and showing why. Don’t link to the false information or the original social media post. Use a screenshot instead. Report it: You can also report the disinformation to some social media platforms by clicking on the 3 dots and selecting “Report post”.

Source: MediaSmarts, Correcting disinformation

Find out more

Use your online influence to spread facts, not fakes. Consider sharing these resources about disinformation with your networks.

Non-government resources from across Canada

Government of Canada resources

International resources

You can’t be too careful when it comes to dating, especially nowadays. And with our economy being such a mess, student loan debt basically being a foregone conclusion, and very little stability to be had in the job market, a lot of single folks have some pretty tight requirements for their potential partner’s financial status.

But it seems like some of us might be being a little bit TOO cautious or strict when it comes to how our dates manage their money, and according to one finance expert, it’s making a lot of us miss out on people who are potentially perfect lifelong partners. Fred Harrington is a business and money expert and the CEO of discount site Proxy Coupons. He says that when it comes to selecting potential partners, a lot of us are getting the wrong idea about a handful of seemingly concerning financial behaviors that are actually clues to really solid money habits.

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Someone who suggests coffee instead of dinner might come off as cheap, and someone who brings up their financial details early on can seem to be lacking boundaries. Red flags, right? Well, maybe not.

“People too often mistake smart financial habits for stinginess or emotional unavailability,” Harrington said. “But someone who’s thoughtful about money early on may actually be showing you the exact qualities you want in a long-term partner.”

1. They always pick the cheaper date spot

Most of us take stuff like this to mean they’re a complete and total cheapskate, and they may in fact be! But Harrington said it’s just as often the case that they’re simply pragmatic and have genuinely solid budgeting skills, which is exactly what you want to build long-term wealth.

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“Just because someone chooses affordable venues doesn’t necessarily mean they’re tight with money — they might just be being realistic about their spending,” Harrington said. “They’re showing you they can have fun without breaking the bank, which is exactly the mindset you want in a partner.” It also shows they value the time and experience over the price tag, which reveals a more holistic and long-term view of their finances, rather than a spending mentality.

2. They hesitate before splitting big costs

nortonrsx | Getty Images | Canva Pro

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If your partner pauses before agreeing to split that top-dollar weekend getaway, it’s not necessarily because they’re being a difficult fussbudget. They might just be being healthily cost-conscious. “Taking time to think about bigger expenses doesn’t signal avoidance, but rather smart money management,” Harrington said. “Someone who jumps into financial commitments without thinking is actually the bigger red flag.” That’s likely to lead to actual financial problems down the road.

3. They don’t shower you with gifts early on in the relationship

A guy opting for supermarket flowers over expensive jewelry might seem kind of cloddish and unromantic to some, but spending lavishly is the actual red flag. It’s often a part of financial love-bombing, the process by which an abuser lures a victim into a relationship.

More importantly, being a bit more casual about gifts shows fiscal prudence as well as sincerity. “Someone who shows affection through thoughtful, affordable gestures is demonstrating genuine care rather than trying to buy your attention,” Harrington said. “This restraint shows they understand that real intimacy develops over time rather than through grand financial gestures.”

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4. They talk openly about debt

Talking about credit cards and student loans on a date can certainly seem gauche or lacking in boundaries, or even like the dreaded TMI “trauma dumping.” Plus, it’s just a vibe killer. That is, unless you shift your mindset. “Transparency about debt shows emotional maturity and respect for your relationship,” Harrington said.

“Someone who hides their financial problems is the real red flag here, as they’re likely setting you up for nasty surprises down the line.” That debt will one day be your debt, after all, should the relationship work out!

5. They say no to certain joint expenses

Your partner refusing to split that premium streaming service or expensive concert tickets can be annoying and quickly lapse over into killjoy territory. But Harrington said it’s also an indicator that your partner is comfortable setting boundaries, a skill that all too many people lack and which can make or break a relationship.

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“Learning to say no to unnecessary expenses is a skill that will serve your relationship well,” Harrington said, “and someone who can’t set financial boundaries will struggle with money management throughout your relationship.”

6. They research before every purchase

Rido | Canva Pro

This can be really irritating when you’re the more devil-may-care type, but there’s a difference between someone who’s pragmatic and savvy and someone who’s just plain old neurotic. People who take time to do their research before making a purchase are “displaying the kind of financial diligence that builds wealth over time,” Harrington says. “Such habits might seem small, but they can add up to significant savings over the years.”

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Some people are just cheap, controlling killjoys. Every situation is different. But it’s just as likely that your fussy new partner has the foresight and big-picture financial skills that will help secure your future and make communication about money effective and easy. As Harrington put it, “they’re showing you exactly who they are with money, which means you should be able to trust them with everything else.” And that’s as good as gold.

John Sundholm is a writer, editor, and video personality with 20 years of experience in media and entertainment. He covers culture, mental health, and human interest topics.

The Rise of Romance Scams

Americans are more connected than ever before thanks to social media and dating apps that allow us to stay in touch with old friends all over the world and to develop new relationships online. Yet, even with these new platforms, many of us report feeling lonelier than ever. As Americans increasingly go online in search of meaningful relationships, scammers are following suit. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in 2022 almost 70,000 people reported being a victim of a romance scam.

Romance scams are a type of confidence scheme. Scammers work to gain a victim’s trust and then provide false information or misrepresentation to gain a financial benefit by relying on the compassion of the victim. These schemes are constantly evolving and becoming more innovative.

All age groups are vulnerable, though older Americans may be particularly vulnerable and targeted as they typically have more assets and are less familiar with online scams. According to the FTC’s Protecting Older Consumers Report Protecting Older Consumers (2022-2023), older adults reportedly lost nearly $240 million to romance scams in 2022.

While the tactics used by romance scammers evolve with the times, the core tactic is the timeless art of social engineering – manipulating and influencing people to gain their trust. People of all ages are vulnerable as it is human nature to seek trusting relationships. Romance scams exploit this human quality mercilessly.

Red Flag Indicators of Romance Scams

You may be the target of a romance scammer if the person you are communicating with online shows any of these indicators:

Claims they live, work or are traveling abroad. Lacks proper grammar, although they claim to speak English.

Claims to be notably younger than you.

Quickly professes love to you.

Has a story that is inconsistent.

Has a minimal online presence.

Sends general photos (mostly fake/AI generated) of themselves traveling, shopping, or dining at luxurious locations. Sends or requests explicit photos or videos.

Mentions the idea of meeting and being together soon.

Provides periodic excuses for being unable to make a video call (e.g., Facetime). If a video call happens, you’re unable to see their face clearly.

Requests to have conversations/texts be moved to a separate app (e.g., WhatsApp, Telegram).

Asks for money, often via non-traditional methods such as cryptocurrency or gift cards. Asks if you’ve ever invested in cryptocurrency and/or foreign exchange market. Sends a business link of a cryptocurrency and/or foreign exchange trading platform.

Asks for money, often via non-traditional methods such as cryptocurrency or gift cards. Is combative with you or tries to divert your attention when you question their intentions.

Lastly, if your bank contacts you to express concern you are being victimized, this is perhaps the most significant red flag that you are being targeted.

How Do Scammers Demand Payment?

As romance scammers continue to evolve, so do the methods they use to steal money from their victims. In 2022, 60% of all payments sent to romance scammers were via cryptocurrency or bank wires. Other common payment methods include gift cards (7%) and payment apps (3%). Scammers typically prefer these methods as they offer some level of anonymity and once funds are sent by the victim, the transaction can’t be reversed.

Tips to Avoid Losing Money to a Romance Scam

Although this can be an uncomfortable topic, make sure you, your family and your friends are familiar with romance scams. The more you know about these scams, the better prepared you are to prevent being a victim. Scammers are looking for easy targets. Don’t be an easy target.

Be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls and text messages. Don’t answer calls or texts from any unknown numbers. Never give out personal information over the phone or text. Let calls go to voicemail and don’t be afraid to hang up. Recognized numbers could also be a scam due to IP spoofing. If it’s important, the person will leave a message or follow up with a text. Don’t respond to unknown text messages and block/report them as spam. If you receive a call or text from a reputable entity (e.g., health provider, bank, company), respond using contact information you know is legitimate. Go to their official website for contact and support information.

Don’t answer calls or texts from any unknown numbers. Never give out personal information over the phone or text. Limit what you share online. Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you to form a connection and take advantage of what is going on in your life. In addition, requests for inappropriate photos or financial information could later be used to extort you.

Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you to form a connection and take advantage of what is going on in your life. Go slowly and ask questions. Creating a false sense of urgency is a fundamental tactic of social engineering. Don’t let the individual rush you to make a decision. Be wary of sending money, bank account information, personal photos or other sensitive personal information to someone you’ve never met in person. Do your research. Research the individual’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or other details have been used elsewhere.

Creating a false sense of urgency is a fundamental tactic of social engineering. Don’t let the individual rush you to make a decision. Be wary of sending money, bank account information, personal photos or other sensitive personal information to someone you’ve never met in person. Keep it on the platform. Many times, scammers will push to move the conversation off the dating or social platform. Generally, they request to text or email. This is to avoid the detection controls in dating website chats.

Many times, scammers will push to move the conversation off the dating or social platform. Generally, they request to text or email. This is to avoid the detection controls in dating website chats. Listen to your gut. If the individual seems too good to be true, talk to someone you trust about it.

If the individual seems too good to be true, talk to someone you trust about it. Don’t send money or cryptocurrency. Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone. If you meet someone on a dating site, app, or social media and they want to show you how to invest in crypto, or ask you to send them cryptocurrency, it is a fraud.

Think You’ve Been Scammed?

Romance scammers are highly skilled manipulators who exploit our emotions. They often work in organized groups and use well-rehearsed scripts to deceive their victims. Anyone can fall victim to a romance scam, regardless of age, education or intelligence.

If you believe you have fallen victim of a romance scam:

Do not blame yourself. Falling for a romance scam is not a sign of weakness, but rather a result of sophisticated and manipulative tactics. You are a victim, and it is not your fault.

Stop communicating with the individual immediately.

Talk to someone you trust and describe what’s going on.

Notify the website or social media platform where the scammer first made contact. This can lead to the scammer’s profile being removed, protecting other potential victims.

Report the incident to local law enforcement.

Submit a fraud complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

Regularly check bank and credit card statements for any unusual activity. If personal financial information has been shared, consider freezing credit reports or changing account details.

Even if it’s too late to recoup your losses, details may help others from becoming a victim. Call the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP to report suspicious criminal activity, including possible romance scams. Callers may remain anonymous.

Romance Scams and Human Trafficking

Unsuspecting Americans are not the only victims in these online fraud scams. In many cases, the perpetrators themselves are victims of human trafficking, who are forced to work with no pay, little sleep, and no freedom to leave.

The global COVID-19 pandemic left many people financially devastated and desperate for hope. In many cases, victims respond to online ads promising employment overseas with high salaries. People with certain skillsets are especially targeted, such as those with English and/or Chinese language proficiency. Then they are deceived and arrive at a secure compound comprised of “fraud dens” that are run by Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO). Their passports are confiscated, and they are forced to pay back their “debt” by working long hours. They also face physical and sexual abuse, restrictions on movement, and starvation.

Many of these “fraud dens” are in countries with pervasive government and law enforcement corruption. However, online fraud scams are highly profitable, and this crime model is quickly spreading throughout the world.

How HSI Combats Romance Scams

Most romance scams originate overseas and are often run by TCOs, which pose significant multi-jurisdictional challenges to U.S. law enforcement.

To combat TCOs involvement in romance scams, HSI partners with other U.S. agencies including:

U.S. Secret Service

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

DHS Office of the Inspector General

DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Federal Bureau of Investigations

U.S. Postal Inspection Service

Internal Revenue Service

Commodity Futures Trade Commission

Federal Trade Commission

To combat TCOs, HSI and its partner agencies have worked with the Department of Justice to produce a coordinated enforcement and prosecution effort. This effort involves law enforcement working jointly with prosecutors, our foreign law enforcement partners and the financial industry. This collaboration has led to a more cooperative law enforcement effort that will eventually lead to the disruption and dismantlement of the TCOs that victimize our citizens.

HSI identifies and seizes assets derived from romance scams, disrupting criminal enterprises and taking away their profits. When possible, working in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and foreign governments, HSI will return funds to victims in restitution. Oftentimes, TCOs are engaged in many types of illicit financial crimes, not just romance scams.

HSI leads the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) to advance counter human trafficking law enforcement operations, protect victims and enhance prevention efforts. CCHT works jointly with other headquarters components to further enhance investigative efforts and identify TCOs using fraud scheme to exploit and traffic individuals for financial gain.

HSI and its partner agencies work to spread awareness of deceptive employment ads and online fraud scams. Our Victim Assistance Program provides a critical resource to HSI investigations and criminal prosecutions. We work to help victims who have escaped from “fraud dens” and identify the perpetrators to shut down the TCOs and assist victims of human trafficking.