It’s mid-February, and love is in the air! But it’s not all hearts and chocolates. In the Internet age, romance can also mean catfishers, pig butchers and crypto-con artists. According to the FBI, romance scammers—criminals who use fake online identities to emotionally manipulate their victims—have stolen $3.8 million from New Mexicans over the last year. And with the rise of AI, their methods are growing more sophisticated by the day.
On the next Let’s Talk New Mexico, we’re talking about the scammers that want to steal your heart, but only so they can also steal your savings. We’ll look at their methods, hear stories from victims and learn what signs folks need to look out for when they’re chatting up a potential romantic partner on the internet.
And we want to hear from you! Tell us about your sketchiest suitor—when did you first realize that something was off? And what steps do you take to protect yourself when you’re feeling a spark with an on-line Romeo or Juliet who really might be too good to be true? Email us at letstalk@kunm.org, leave us a message on our website, or call in live during the show, Thursday morning at 8.
Guests
- Joel Wigelsworth, Fraud Prevention Outreach, NM Securities Division
- Joseph Roybal-Sanchez, State Director, AARP New Mexico
- Alice Barczak, Albuquerque Queer Women Meetup, LesbianEarth.com
Resources
- AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360
- AARP Fraud Victim Support: Free, confidential discussion groups
- Human trafficking victims tortured into scamming innocent people | 60 Minutes Australia
- Red Flags of Fraud, New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department
* Clarification from New Mexico Securities Division: "Cryptocurrency and related investment products may fall under the jurisdiction of the New Mexico Securities Division. While not all digital currencies are classified as securities, certain offers and sales of cryptocurrency—particularly those structured as investment contracts—can be subject to state securities laws. Additionally, many types of investment frauds are presented to potential victims as purchasing or investing in “cryptocurrency.”
