They say love is blind, but in this case, it was also expensive. A Provo man in his 70s thought he had found love online—only to discover he was caught in a cruel scam that drained his savings. Here’s how it happened and what you need to know to protect yourself and your loved ones.
The Costly Illusion of Love
For two years, the victim believed he was in a long-distance relationship with a woman in Maryland. She promised to move to Utah and be with him—if only he helped her financially. Little by little, he sent money through CashApp, totaling $186,000 before his family intervened.
Provo police believe that even a video call the man had with the woman was AI-generated, making the deception even more convincing. The scam is still under investigation, but authorities are warning seniors and their families to be extra cautious.
How It Works
- Emotional Manipulation – Scammers build trust over time, posing as a potential romantic partner.
- Fake Urgencies – The scammer invents emergencies, such as needing money for medical bills, travel, or inheritance claims.
- Money Transfers – The victim sends money to multiple accounts using cash apps like PayPal, making it hard to trace.
- Never Meeting in Person – The scammer always has an excuse for why they can’t meet, keeping the relationship entirely online.
Who’s Targeted?
- Seniors, especially those who are widowed or divorced.
- People looking for companionship online.
- Anyone unfamiliar with online scams and digital financial transactions.
Real-Life Case: The Provo Scam
- The victim sent money over two years to 15-20 different accounts.
- His “girlfriend” used AI-generated video calls to convince him she was real.
- It wasn’t until his son stepped in that police were contacted, stopping further payments.
Why You Should Care
Romance scams don’t just steal money—they leave victims emotionally devastated. Many are too embarrassed to report them, allowing scammers to keep preying on others. In 2023 alone, romance scams cost Americans over $1 billion.
How to Protect Yourself (or a Loved One)
- Be Skeptical of Online Romances – If you’ve never met in person, assume it’s a scam.
- Never Send Money to Someone You Haven’t Met – No matter how convincing the story is.
- Watch for Red Flags – Excuses for not meeting, requests for secrecy, and urgent financial requests.
- Verify Identities – Run a reverse image search on profile pictures to check for stolen photos.
- Involve Family or Friends – If a loved one is getting involved in an online relationship, stay informed and watch for warning signs.
Quick Tips & Updates
💡 Did You Know? Scammers often steal profile pictures from real people to create fake identities. A reverse image search can help detect fraud.
🔍 Pro Tip: If someone you’ve never met asks for money, it’s a scam. Period.
Stay safe, stay informed.
Keyword Definitions
- Romance Scam: A type of fraud where scammers pose as romantic partners to deceive victims into sending money.
- AI-Generated Videos: Videos created using artificial intelligence to simulate a real person, often used in scams.
- Reverse Image Search: A tool that allows users to find the original source of an image, useful for spotting stolen profile pictures.
- Social Engineering: Psychological manipulation used by scammers to trick victims into giving up personal information or money.
- CashApp Fraud: Scams involving peer-to-peer payment apps like CashApp, PayPal, or Venmo to make tracing funds difficult.
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