Lebanon County woman lost $384K in romance scam, state police say
Investigators say a Lebanon-area woman lost more than $384,000 to a romance scam. Police are warning others to avoid similar ploys.
State police didn’t provide further details about the incident, which is still under investigation, but used it to raise awareness about the dangers of the internet.
The 63-year-old woman lost at least $384,000 to an alleged catfishing scam, in addition to hundreds of Apple gift cards, authorities say. They haven’t released information about potential suspects.
“Troopers are reviewing financial records and transactions to determine the exact amount of the victim’s losses and identify accounts and individuals associated with the scheme,” police said in a Sept. 8 statement.
According to the state police, people are advised to never send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or financial information to someone you only know online. Similarly, they shouldn’t send security codes or make wire transfers or account withdrawals at the direction of an online romantic partner.
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Likewise, police say the public should never provide passwords, Social Security numbers, bank information, or verification codes to an online contact.
The public should be suspicious of anyone claiming to be a celebrity, musician, military member, or other professional who cannot meet in person or repeatedly asks for money. Often, social media profiles and even video calls can be manipulated, and they don’t necessarily prove an individual’s identity. People are urged to talk to family or a trusted friend before sending money to someone you met online.
Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth.
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This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon County woman lost $384K in romance scam, state police say