{"id":4938,"date":"2026-02-10T12:11:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T10:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/?p=177018"},"modified":"2026-02-10T12:11:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T10:11:40","slug":"dont-become-a-scam-victim-during-the-month-of-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/dont-become-a-scam-victim-during-the-month-of-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Dont Become a Scam Victim During the Month of Love"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Johannesburg: <\/strong>February is traditionally a time when people seek companionship with the hope of finding true love. But while many are searching for genuine relationships, scammers are equally active, preying on emotional vulnerability and the desire for connection. The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) warns that romance scams spike during this period, with criminals using increasingly sophisticated, tech?driven tactics to deceive their victims.<\/p>\n

\u201cRomance scams are no longer obvious. They are highly elaborate, psychologically engineered, and technologically enabled,\u201d says Manie van Schalkwyk, CEO of the SAFPS, \u201cwhile romance scams are a reality all year round, scammers actively target and exploit people\u2019s emotions more around Valentine\u2019s Day. We want South Africans to be alert, informed, and protected.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span>The illusion of connection: How scammers build trust<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

In today\u2019s hyper?connected world, social media platforms and dating apps have become mainstream avenues for meeting new people. While these platforms offer convenience, they also create fertile ground for scammers.<\/p>\n

Van Schalkwyk explains that scammers are exceptionally skilled at crafting profiles that mirror the ideal partner; attractive, attentive, similar interests, and emotionally available. \u201cThey study what people want and then present themselves as the perfect match. Once the initial connection is made, they invest significant time in building a relationship, gaining trust, and emotional intimacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is known as social engineering, where they use their victim\u2019s behaviour and what they share with the world against them in order to influence or deceive them.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople underestimate how powerful emotional engineering can be,\u201d says Van Schalkwyk. \u201cScammers don\u2019t just steal money, they steal trust, dignity, and emotional security.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span>The tactics: How scammers turn connection into exploitation<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Van Schalkwyk explains that romance scammers follow a predictable behavioural cycle:<\/p>\n