Online love fraud continues to claim victims, where criminals take advantage of the anonymity of the internet to deceive individuals into believing they are in romantic relationships. Under false promises and seductive language, these scammers seek to obtain money from their victims, requesting funds for supposed emergencies or financial or health problems.
One of the most common schemes today is the "romance scam," where fraudsters, mostly men, manage to win the trust of their targets, primarily women, by communicating through apps or social networks. They even manage to simulate romantic relationships with them, reaching out to request money transfers or banking information before disappearing, leaving the victims with serious financial issues.
An emblematic case is that of Jonathan Sotelo, known as the "Bumble scammer," who deceived around 79 women with promises of love and extravagant luxuries. Scams like these have led to a significant increase in reports of extortion received since 2019 by the Citizen Council for Security and Justice of Mexico City. Up to 70% of these reports are attempted scams.
The victims of these deceptions share heartbreaking stories, such as that of Fernanda G, who discovered after two years of relationship that she was a victim of a scammer. Another shocking case involves a 73-year-old woman from Nicaragua, who was deceived by a fake Luis Miguel, losing her life savings in an attempt to find love.
Authorities warn about the dangers of these online love frauds, urging the population to verify the authenticity of virtual profiles, not to provide personal information or make money transfers to strangers. Additionally, reporting hotlines and psychological support have been implemented for victims of these crimes in various parts of the world.
