Love isn’t the only thing in the air on this Valentine’s Day. Consumer advocates warn that romance scams are soaring. The Federal Trade Commission reports hoaxes shot up to more than 21-thousand last year, compared to just under 17-thousand in 2017.
Losses went from 88-million dollars in 2017 to 143-million last year. The median loss to a romance scam last year was 26-hundred dollars. The FTC says that’s seven times more than any other type of consumer fraud. Romance scammers often find victims through online dating sites, apps, or social media. The FTC says never send money to a potential love interest you haven’t met in person.
Now that Valentine’s Day is here, Wisconsin officials are reminding people that love shouldn’t hurt.
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and outreach centers and domestic abuse shelters say dating violence among teens is widespread. It comes with serious long-term and short-term health effects. Teens experiencing dating violence are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, think about suicide and have an increased risk of victimization during college.
