SAN ANTONIO – The pressures of finding romance this Valentine's Day is forcing love seekers to turn to the internet. Using social media and dating websites is on the rise, but not everyone is there for the same reasons.
FBI Special Agent Michelle Lee said criminals are visiting the matchmaking sites, hoping to scam you out of money.
"Essentially, they try and get close to you, befriend you and start up a friendship. In some cases, it turns into a romantic conversation," Lee said.
The scammer will gain a person’s trust and then ask to borrow money or get them to invest in a business venture.
"They claim they’re going to pay you back or you're going to get a return on your investment, and it's just a scam. You lose the money," Lee said.
It's known as the romance scam, and according to the FBI, it's been around more than 10 years.
"Most of the scams involve individuals that never meet. However, we have seen some scarier versions where there will be a meeting that will be arranged. And in some cases, the victims are mugged or physically assaulted and money is taken from them as well," Lee said.
Lee said the amount can vary, but most times, victims lose hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of dollars.
"Never send money to someone you haven't met, and definitely don't send it by wire transfer or Moneygram. That may be very difficult for us to get your money back for you," Lee said.
If you or anyone you know has become a victim of a romance scam, you're asked to call the FBI immediately.