How do romance scammers target victims?

Romance scammers target victims on dating websites and social media.

Why do romance scammers prefer payment in cash, gift cards, or Bitcoin?

Romance scammers prefer these payment methods to maintain anonymity.

Romance scammers exploit emotional vulnerability to manipulate victims.

Romance scammers use videos and black magic to escalate their earnings.

Scam busters like Ben Taylor work with victims to expose and combat romance scammers.

Romance scamming is a global issue that cost Americans over $300 million in 2020, with victims targeted on dating websites and social media, facing losses averaging $2,500, rising to almost $10,000 for older victims.
Scammers in Ghana, a hotbed for romance scams, operate in organized groups, using scripts, manipulation tactics, and even black magic rituals to exploit victims emotionally and financially, with larger criminal networks led by figures like The Finisher targeting men for financial gain.

How do romance scammers target victims?
Romance scammers target victims on dating websites and social media.
Why do romance scammers prefer payment in cash, gift cards, or Bitcoin?
Romance scammers prefer these payment methods to maintain anonymity.
How do romance scammers exploit emotional vulnerability?
Romance scammers exploit emotional vulnerability to manipulate victims.
How do romance scammers escalate their earnings?
Romance scammers use videos and black magic to escalate their earnings.
How do scam busters like Ben Taylor combat romance scammers?
Scam busters like Ben Taylor work with victims to expose and combat romance scammers.

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Romance scamming is a global crime wave that cost Americans over $300 million in 2020.
Victims of romance scams are being targeted on dating websites and social media, with losses averaging $2,500 and rising to nearly $10,000 for victims 70 and older.
Six alleged ring leaders of a cyber criminal enterprise, including romance scammers, were charged in Ghana.
Ghana has become a hotbed for romance scammers due to its young, tech-savvy population.
Scammers in Ghana use scripts to manipulate victims, with one scammer admitting to making over $30,000.
Scammers work in packs, with a boss overseeing operations and taking a percentage of the profits.
Scammers celebrate their earnings by partying in clubs and pool halls in Ghana's capital.
A journalist meets a scammer known as "The Punisher" who scams men by pretending to be a woman.
Scammers prefer payment in cash, gift cards, or Bitcoin, with video calls used to maintain the illusion.
Scammers like "The Punisher" exploit the emotional vulnerability of their victims, with one victim sending over $10,000 for various reasons.

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Scammers use videos as part of their toolkit, seeking to escalate their earnings.
To enhance their scam, they turn to black magic, involving priests and love spells.
Nana, a respected figure, plays a crucial role in a scamming culture blending African rituals with cyber fraud.
The Punisher, a scammer, relies on Nana's powers for success.
Scammers like The Punisher aim for significant financial gains through their scams.
Larger criminal networks are now involved in romance scams, with a figure known as The Finisher leading the way.
The Finisher's team includes experts in forging documents, hunting for victims, impersonating, and creating convincing scripts.
The scammers target men, finding them easier to deceive and extract money from.
The scammers use fake scenarios, scripts, and formats to manipulate victims into sending money.
Victims, like Susan, work with scam busters like Ben Taylor to expose and combat scammers, seeking justice and closure.

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The individual in the text expresses deep regret for taking $3,000 from someone, causing pain and leading to the victim's eviction, which ultimately made the individual leave a game. This act continues to haunt the individual, highlighting the emotional toll it has taken.
The text delves into the impact of scams on victims, particularly women who struggle to trust others after losing significant amounts of money. It emphasizes the harsh reality of survival in Africa, where some resort to unethical means due to desperation, contrasting dreams of youth with the harshness of poverty and the need to provide for families.