Those online dating scams? Don’t try them on South Dakotans

If you’re a romantic scammer, don’t target South Dakotans.

That’s a takeaway from a new study that found the state ranks No. 50 in terms of residents who lost money to dating-related scams.

SocialCatfish.com released a study on the Most Targeted States for Romance Scams after analyzing FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data released in 2021.

It found a record $304 million was lost to romance scams in 2020, up from $201 million the previous year. The study pointed to pandemic-related loneliness fueling an “unprecedented rise in scams with more people looking for love online.”

Even though South Dakota ranked last, residents still reported losing $585,685. That represents 32 victims filing reports with average losses of $18,302.

And, the report cautioned, “the number of victims and money lost is likely much higher as most people are too embarrassed to come forward once they are scammed.”

The holidays can make people feel more alone, making it peak season for scammers.

The report offered these five signs you are being scammed and how to avoid becoming a victim:

Will not meet in person or video chat

They keep finding excuses not to video chat or meet. They send pictures of themselves with your name written on a piece of paper to prove they are real, but these are photoshopped.

Asks to move away from the dating app

They want to move the conversation off the dating app and onto an online messaging platform such as WhatsApp or Google Hangouts.

Poor grammar but claims to be educated

They claim to be highly educated, but their messages are littered with typos and grammatical errors.

Confesses love quickly

Their goal is shower you with love to gain your trust so they can steal your money. If the person moves too quickly and asks for the same in return, it is a red flag.

Asks for financial assistance

They claim to have an emergency and ask you to send money. They also may ask for your bank account information so they can deposit money into your account.

To avoid becoming a victim, never give money or personal information to anyone you have not met in person. Do a reverse search to verify if the person is who they say they are.

If you believe you have been contacted by a romance scammer, report it to the Federal Trade Commission.