When you think of cybersecurity, love and emotions are likely some of the last words that come to mind. However, scammers regularly depend on emotional connection to achieve their devious goals. According to the FBI, romance scams are at an all-time high, and accounted for the third highest internet crime loss in 2021.

Here at Farmhouse Networking, we account for human nature, and specifically gear our trainings towards helping people separate facts from feelings. When it comes to online romances, here are our top 3 red flags to look out for:

1. Things are intense: Online scammers want to act quickly before you suspect anything. They may profess their love for or even propose marriage after just a few months of talking.
2. Promises are broken: Since there is often an element of catfishing in romance scams, scammers may make plans to meet over video or in-person, but come up with last minute excuses to cancel.
3. They are far away: Similarly to #2, posing as a member of the military or international business person are common profiles of scammers, since they can easily avoid having to meet in-person.

Thanks to feelings of loneliness and isolation that often accompany winter, December through February is peak season for romance scams. Farmhouse Networking’s goal is for your employees to always feel confident and empowered to see through all kinds of phishing attempts. Thank you for being a valued customer, and know that we are always here to support you.