LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. – Pennsylvania State Police are investigating after a 63-year-old Lebanon County woman lost about $400,000 in a reported online romance scam involving someone claiming to be an up-and-coming country music star.
Trooper Ethan Brownback said the woman met the person on TikTok earlier this year before their conversations moved to the messaging app Telegram.
“The victim and the suspect met on TikTok, and then they focused their conversation on an app called Telegram shortly thereafter,” Brownback said.
State Police say the woman eventually sent about $400,000, plus hundreds of dollars in Apple gift cards, after the person asked for money to further his music career.
“It could be anywhere from a couple hundred to, in this case, I mean, we’re talking about possibly close to a half a million dollars,” Brownback said of the potential losses in romance scams.
Police say there was another red flag.
“In this particular case, the suspect repeatedly told the victim not to tell any family members or friends about their relationship,” Brownback said.
The woman’s children eventually discovered what was happening.
The investigation remains ongoing. Troopers are reviewing financial records and transactions to determine the woman’s exact losses and identify the accounts and people connected to the reported scam.
Brownback says people should be cautious about sending money or financial information to someone they have only met online.
“Make sure that you are never sending any money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, any type of financial information to someone that you only met online,” Brownback said.