The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about Valentine’s Day romance scams. Scammers often form rapid online relationships that lead to requests for money or sensitive personal information under false pretenses.
The FBI advises verifying the online presence of new contacts, taking time before trusting someone, avoiding requests to move conversations off public platforms, and never sending money to people known only online or by phone.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office warns that romance scams often involve a seemingly perfect contact pushing for private conversations, attempts to isolate victims from friends or family, and fake emergencies designed to get money. They emphasize: “Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.”…