Sweetheart Scams in our Community

According to Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Adult Protection Services, there has been a noticeable increase in sweetheart scams in our community within the last few months. The scammers are targeting Elders and vulnerable adults who are lonely and want to connect with someone special. The main site that has been noted in our community is the Facebook dating app but there are other apps being used including Instagram.

How it works is: a scammed person places a profile with a picture on the dating app and soon there is a promising match. Good looking, smart, funny, and personable. Stock photos are often used. After conversing for a while in the “get to know you stage”, which can last several months, the scammers move on to tell the scammed person their troubles and ask for money. They will say they are taking care of their mother and can’t afford the medicine, or their car broke down and they can’t get to doctors’ appointments without it. The reasons they may need money is endless. They will hint that they have no one to help them in hopes the scammed person will offer money. If the person does not offer money the scammer will ask if the person can help them. The scammer goes on to say the quickest way for them to get the money is to purchase gift cards, Apple cards being one of the favorites, and send them the numbers off the gift cards. The scammers will continue to romance the scammed person as long as the person is sending the scammers money.

The scammers often promise to meet with the scammed person but will continuously have reasons why they can’t meet. In many cases the “relationship” continues in text form and there are no video chats but it may move to emails or texts on the persons’ personal phone. Occasionally the scammers may speak to the person by phone.

The scammers are very convincing, and the person being scammed feels that they are in a loving, committed relationship, and eventually they will be with the other person. It is very hard to convince the scammed person that they are being scammed because of the relationship that has been built.

Warning sign are:

-Overly complimentary and flirtatious

-Shower you with affection and overwhelm you with text, emails or phone calls

-Suggest or insist that you keep the “relationship” secret

-Pressures or hurries you to share your private financial information or seem pushy or nosey about your finances

People in this community are giving hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars a month to these scammers. The scammed persons are not paying their bills, and in some cases, getting food from food pantries instead buying groceries.

If you or someone you know is getting scammed, immediately stop communicating with the scammer, remove yourself from the dating site, block them from your phone, and contact your financial institution if you’ve given out banking information. Then contact one of the services below:

On the American side:

SMRT Adult Protective Service-518-358-9659

Tribal Police- 518-358-9200

Senior Center 518-358-2963

Federal Trade Commission (all scams) reportfraud.ftc.gov

On the Canadian side you can contact the Canadian anti-Fraud centre toll free at 1-888-495-8501 or Akwesasne Mohawk Police service at (613) 575-2340.

"This project/publication is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award.100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.