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For Immediate Release
February 7, 2022
Contact:
Bryan J. Townsend II Assistant Attorney General
Bryan.Townsend@doj.nh.gov | (603) 271-7094
Concord, NH -- Attorney General John M. Formella issues a Consumer Alert warning residents to be on the lookout for romance scams. A romance scam occurs when a scammer forms a romantic relationship with a victim online or over the telephone and then attempts to obtain money or personal identifying information from the victim.
Romance scammers troll online dating and social media websites using fake personas. These scammers often target single individuals, including those recently divorced or widowed. They ingratiate themselves with the victim by claiming to share common interests or circumstances. The scammers get this information through a victim's public social media accounts as well as other online resources such as obituaries.
If you are speaking with someone on the telephone or online who you have not met in person, there are several signs that this person may be a scammer, which include:
Avoid falling victim to a romance scam by:
If you or a loved one has lost money or property as a result of a romance scam, please call your local police department and the New Hampshire Consumer Protection Hotline at (603) 271-3641. You may also report to:
In addition, anyone with knowledge that a vulnerable adult has been scammed or financially exploited should also contact the New Hampshire Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, at 1-800-949-0470.
New Hampshire Department of Justice
1 Granite Place South | Concord, NH | 03301
Telephone: 603-271-3658