{"id":16394,"date":"2018-06-15T13:22:16","date_gmt":"2018-06-15T21:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=16394"},"modified":"2022-04-13T12:27:09","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T20:27:09","slug":"beware-ghana-romance-scam-dating-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/beware-ghana-romance-scam-dating-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Using a Dating App? Beware of Ghana Scams"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ghanaian romance scams<\/span> are costing Americans millions of dollars each year.<\/span><\/p>\n

They break your heart, steal your money, and then disappear without a trace. Operating from internet caf\u00e9s in Ghana, romance fraudsters are conning thousands of Americans looking for love. If you\u2019re new to the world of online dating, here are a few pointers on how to protect yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ghana Dating Scams: A Billion Dollar Business<\/b><\/h1>\n

Online dating is more popular than ever. At least <\/span>15% of American adults use dating sites<\/span><\/a> like OKCupid, eharmony and Tinder, and the number grows every year. You can also check out GhanaWeb to keep an eye on local news.<\/span><\/p>\n

But for every 100 genuine dating profiles you swipe through on your quest for love, there\u2019s a possibility that <\/span>as many as 10 you see are fake<\/span><\/a>. Welcome to the shady and costly world of <\/span>Ghana romance scams<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Romance scams, like so-called \u201c<\/span>419 scams<\/span><\/a>\u201d are a form of advance-fee fraud often originating in Nigeria and Ghana. They all work pretty much the same way. The scammer \u201chooks\u201d their prey with a sob story or a promise of future riches in exchange for money up front. Once money is sent, the scammer cuts all ties and disappears without a trace. <\/span><\/p>\n

All those promises of love or marriage simply amount to nothing. Since they hide behind phoney profiles and email addresses overseas, they\u2019re virtually impossible to track down. This means there\u2019s usually little that authorities or banks can do to help and recoup the victim\u2019s losses.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2016, <\/span>the FBI reported<\/span><\/a> that losses associated with romance scam complaints had exceeded $230 million. A 20% increase from the previous year. In the West African developing country Ghana, there\u2019s even a name for professional romance scammers. They are called <\/span>\u201cSakawa Boys\u201d<\/span><\/a> (after the Ghanaian word for \u201cfraud\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

A Scammer\u2019s Modus Operandi<\/b><\/h2>\n

The scammers invariably follow a similar format. They tend to target more vulnerable individuals like older people  and widows and widowers who may be more likely to fall prey to these <\/span>Ghana scams<\/span>. Who wouldn\u2019t want to help out a girl in trouble or <\/span>a handsome soldier <\/span>looking for help returning home? The scammers seek to exploit their loneliness and generosity by creating fake <\/span>dating<\/span> profiles, connecting with unsuspecting singles and ensnaring them in a web of lies. <\/span><\/p>\n

Spending weeks getting to know their victims and gaining their confidence is a norm<\/b><\/h4>\n

At some point during the <\/span>Ghana scams<\/span>, all scammers ask for money. They might claim to have been in an accident, or ask for money to help build a church or aid an ailing relative. By this time the victim will be so blinded by their desire to make a connection that they\u2019re willing to wire money and\/or share bank info with the fraudster.  <\/span><\/p>\n

The fact that they\u2019ve they\u2019ve never even met that person face-to-face goes to show just how good the scammers are at manipulation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Americans can find Ghanaians on any of the major dating sites<\/b><\/h4>\n

Most Americans who create an online relationship with a Ghanaian think they are communicating with someone in the US. It is only after the scammer has created a relationship with the victim does the scammer tell them that they are from Ghana. <\/span><\/p>\n

The relationship will be anywhere between 1 to 3 months old when the <\/span>Ghanaian scammer<\/span> will ask for money, citing any of the reasons mentioned above.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever the reason, the American victim is so involved at this point that they usually send the money after the first request. At this stage of the relationship, both parties have moved on from communicating via app to emailing or texting. And the American has probably also spoken to one of the Ghanaian\u2019s \u201crelatives\u201d and so feel like a part of the family.<\/span><\/p>\n

Signs It\u2019s a Scam<\/b><\/h2>\n

Refusing to meet in person is a classic sign of a <\/span>Ghana scam<\/span> or <\/span>catfish<\/span><\/a>. That being said, it\u2019s just one of several red flags you may encounter if you\u2019re dealing with a <\/span>Ghana dating scams<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a short list of signs that you may be dealing with a con artist:<\/span><\/p>\n