From the Web

FROM THE WEB: Online Dating Made Woman Pawn In A Global Crime Plot

Money

There is a growing concern over the increasing prevalence of online dating scams worldwide, as the number of vulnerable people falling victim to criminal plots continues to rise.

According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, victims of online romance scams in the US lost more than $87m in 2014, in comparison with the $50m lost in 2011.

A fascinating article recently published on Wired tells the story of a struggling 45-year-old divorcee, who became involved in a global money wiring plot, after falling in love with someone she had met online.

Audrey Elaine Elrod was tempted into becoming an accomplice of her online love – to whom she believed she was engaged, and began wiring money across various countries into several bank accounts.

The article details the scale of the repercussions she faced as a result of the crime, and her reaction to falling victim to a highly complex scam of this nature.

It also gives insight into the science behind these types of scams, the geographical origins of the scams, and builds a profile of the people most likely to fall victim to online dating fraud.

Read the full article here.

Danielle White

Danielle is a Junior Reporter at Global Dating Insights. Originally from Reading, she has studied Multimedia Journalism at Bournemouth University and has a passion for writing and reporting. She enjoys travelling and likes to spend her free time socialising with friends and attending music events.

Global Dating Insights is part of the Industry Insights Group. Registered in the UK. Company No: 14395769