scammers, scams, dating scams, romance scams, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Hawks, warning, caution, tips to avoid scammers, important tips to spot dating scams, important tips to spot romance scams, tips to spot scammers

The Hawks has shared a number of vital tips for the public to spot and avoid dating scams. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

Hawks provide important tips to AVOID dating scams

The Hawks has received numerous complaints about dating scams and has provided important tips to stay away from scammers.

scammers, scams, dating scams, romance scams, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Hawks, warning, caution, tips to avoid scammers, important tips to spot dating scams, important tips to spot romance scams, tips to spot scammers

The Hawks has shared a number of vital tips for the public to spot and avoid dating scams. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) issued a warning about dating scammers.

The Hawks specified that they have received a number of complaints regarding dating scams.

Who do they target?

Spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke said that the available information points to the following people who are targeted by scammers:

  • Recently divorced women;
  • Women who are widowed;
  • Women who have inherited valuable assets and;
  • Women who are unmarried and have stable jobs.

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Scammers, according to Maluleke scammers pretend to be looking for a ‘good wife’ to marry within a short space of time.

“In a short while, they would come up with business proposals where the victims would be promised unbelievable dividends,”

said Maluleke.

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What do the scammers do?

The scammers request that the women sell all their valuable assets or withdraw all their money and make a deposit into a provided bank account. 

They request this to be done in order to start a lucrative-looking business.

After the money is successfully deposited, the scammers do not contact the victims again.

“Most of the scammers are reportedly foreign nationals,”

said Maluleke.

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The Hawks say they have received numerous complaints about dating scams. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

Tips to avoid falling victim to scam

Women have been advised by the Hawks to be cautious and stay away from scammers who come into their lives ‘in the name of love’.

Here’s how to identify a possible dating scam:

–        The scammers look and sound very caring and responsible;

–        They always come up with business proposals;

–        The scammers do not want their pictures to be taken;

–        They do not want to meet with you in a public place;

–        The scammers always hide their identification documents;

–        They do not introduce you to their families;

–        The dating scammers want to own everything in a relationship;

–        They do not take you to their real house and;

–        The scammers always come up with contradictory stories.

“If you can come across someone who has some of the above traits, you should know that it could be a possible scammer. You better run away from them before they run away with all your money or assets that you have worked hard for,” Maluleke concluded.

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