FBI San Diego Warns of Romance Scams
SAN DIEGO – Scammers are targeting victims using online dating sites. A whirlwind online romance can turn into fraud that causes victims to lose large amounts of money. Romance scams, a type of confidence fraud, begin when an individual believes they are in a romantic relationship and are tricked into sending money, personal information, financial information, or items of value to the perpetrator. They may also be deceived into laundering money or other valuable items to assist the perpetrator.
In a romance scam, the scammers target and take advantage of people looking for companionship or romantic partners and con them out of their money. The criminals who carry out romance scams typically target victims via social media messaging and emails with the intention of establishing a relationship and building trust as quickly as possible.
Confidence fraud/romance scams have resulted in one of the highest amounts of financial losses when compared to other internet-facilitated crimes. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 19,000 complaints about confidence fraud in 2022, with reported losses of nearly $740 million.
FBI San Diego is monitoring a trend where romance scams turn into crypto investment fraud schemes. The scam starts similarly as an online relationship, but instead of asking for cash, the scammer convinces the victim to invest in cryptocurrency. To demonstrate the returns on investment, victims are directed to websites that appear authentic, but are instead controlled by the scammer. Once the victim makes a purchase, they are unable to cash out their investments and the scammer disappears.
If you develop a relationship with someone you meet online, FBI San Diego suggests the following tips to avoid becoming a victim of a romance scam:
■ If it doesn’t feel right, then it probably isn’t. Trust your instincts.
■ If you suspect an online relationship is a scam, stop all contact immediately.
■ Do not give any personal information or money to anyone you have only communicated with by telephone or online.
■ Be careful what you post online. Scammers can use details shared on social media platforms and dating sites to legitimize their story.
■ If you are planning to meet someone in person you have met online, proceed with caution, especially if you plan to travel to a foreign country. Review the State department’s travel advisories before arranging travel. (travel.state.gov)
Anyone who believes they’ve been a victim of fraud or knows someone who may be a victim should file a report on ic3.gov or call the FBI San Diego Field Office at (858) 320-1800. For more information on romance scams, visit www.fbi.gov/ romancescams.
SACRAMENTO –
Last week, Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) introduced Senate Bill 1049, a bill to create a program to certify and highlight businesses paying workers a living wage, one that allows full-time employees to afford a decent standard of living in the region they work. The bill also requires the Department of Industrial Relations to develop a calculation of what a living wage would be in every county of the state.
According to a press release from Senator Padilla’s office, California has one of the nation’s highest minimum wages at $16 per hour, but suffers some of the nation’s highest poverty rates due to high living expenses, primarily driven by housing and childcare costs. According to United Way of California’s Real Cost Measure, 1 in 3 households in California – over 3.5 million families – do not earn enough to make ends meet. In most major markets in California, workers need to work two full time minimum wage jobs in order to afford a one-bedroom apartment.
Per the release, the current minimum wage was set by the Legislature in 2016. However, higher than expected inflation and rising demand for housing rendered the wage outdated faster than anyone could have anticipated. SB 1049 would create program within the Department of Industrial Relations tasked with issuing certifications to businesses throughout the state that pay employees a living wage. These businesses certified as “Living Wage Employers” are already uplifting communities with wages that help Californians lift themselves out of poverty. By identifying their efforts, the state can better understand the economic drivers in communities.
The bill also directs the Department of Industrial Relations to develop a living wage formula by county that takes into consideration housing costs as well as food, transportation, and healthcare, among other factors. This unique formula would be the first time the state would officially calculate wage needs to meet basic housing costs.
“The current wage standard dooms workers to around the clock labor just to make ends meet. California workers and their families should be able to afford housing in the communities that they work,” Senator Padilla said in the press release. “There are businesses already trying to better their communities with real living wages to employees. We need to identify these business and uplift their efforts as well.”
The United Ways of California, in 2023, conducted its latest bi-annual study entitled How Much it Costs to Struggle: The Real Cost Measure in California, its fifth study cataloging the costs that families face throughout the state. The study analyzes what it takes for families to meet basic needs – including housing, food, transportation, health care, childcare, and taxes – and how many families earn below that threshold in every county in California.
“When people earn a living wage, they can afford their bills, spend time with their family, and build generational wealth. Senator Padilla’s bill gets us one step closer to that stronger financial future for Californians,” Pete Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California said in the release. “We know from our Real Cost Measure report that to help struggling families gain agency, dignity, and mobility – to move up – California needs a measure to point the way to a decent standard of living. Our Network looks forward to working with Senator Padilla on his Living Wage Formula Certification bill.”
“Adopting Sen. Padilla’s legislation will allow us to more easily determine a living wage for Californians to meet their basic needs, something the Real Cost Measure reviews bi-annually at a household level,” Kevin Zwick, CEO of United Way Bay Area said in the release. “The current minimum wage does not accurately account for families’ budgets to afford housing and feed their families, and the Living Wage Formula would provide proper guidance to policymakers looking to address the issue.”
“United Way has been a leading voice on this Issue for decades and I am proud to partner with them again to change the conversation of affordability in the state,” Senator Padilla said in the release. “We need to find a solution that works for real people and elevate those that are already doing the right thing. I am confident that with the help of their expertise and leadership, we can do exactly that.”
SB 1049 will be heard in the Senate in the coming months.