This weekend is Valentine’s Day, a time to spend quality time with your loved ones. However, if you are searching for companionship, make sure you are not being played by a scammer, especially when making a connection online.

Romance scams prey on an individual’s desire for companionship and occur when imposters pose as a person seeking love on dating sites, social media or even in person in an attempt to gain trust—and ultimately swindle unsuspecting sweethearts.

As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, scammers may attempt to trick those seeking companionship into thinking they have found their soulmates. Remember to guard your heart, as well as your wallet, when meeting new people or seeking a romantic relationship.

Some tips that will help you guard against these malicious scammers include: asking detailed questions when meeting someone new online; seeking the opinion of trusted friends and family members; conducting a reverse image search to see whether the image of a love interest is connected to any other accounts under different names or with different information; and never establishing a joint bank account with a new sweetheart, or providing access to existing accounts.

This week, I issued a Consumer Alert and a new Scams at a Glance brochure, titled Swindling Sweethearts, detailing information and resources on romance scams. To view the Consumer Alert, click here.

To view the Scams at a Glance: Swindling Sweethearts brochure, click here.

Anyone who encounters a romance scam, or any other type of fraud, can file a complaint with my office at MyFloridaLegal.com or by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM.

I hope your Valentine’s Day weekend is a joyous occasion, but if it turns out that a new love connection is only interested in stealing your money, report the romance scammer and help us build a Stronger, Safer Florida.