Valentine’s scams take aim at your wallet

As Valentine’s Day approaches, the Better Business Bureau warns that Cupid’s arrow may be aimed directly at consumers’ wallets. Those who find themselves awash in emotion should remember that con artists thrive on such people. They know that emotion can trump logic and blind one just enough for their schemes to be effective.

There are three categories of scams to be aware of during this romantic season as well as throughout the year:

Once the ice is broken and a comfort level has been reached on your part, the heart of the matter is arrived at: he or she needs financial assistance. He or she may want you to cash a check or otherwise help with a financial difficulty. It could be travel expenses, medical expenses or some other type of debt. At any rate, it is your money that they are after. MoneyGram, one of the major global money transfer companies, has estimated that romance scams defraud victims of more than $10,000 per occurrence. For those so victimized, whatever the amount, a website called romancescams.org may be helpful.

Scammers may send you e-mails saying that the flowers you ordered cannot be delivered unless you log in to their site and re-enter your credit card information. These e-mails are sent out in large numbers hoping to eventually find the inboxes of someone who has really sent flowers to a sweetheart. They are playing on consumers’ emotions by planting the fear that the bouquet may not reach the intended and that person will feel forgotten on Valentine’s Day. If you think the message may be legitimate, call the florist or go to the florist’s website using the original site from which you ordered rather than the link on the e-mail.

The best way to assure that flowers reach your beloved just as you ordered them is to rely on a local florist. A website devoted to uncovering florist scammers can be found at floristdetective.com.

• E-card scams. Phishing attempts abound around the e-card industry. A frequently used technique is to e-mail a message saying you have a card waiting to be viewed. You are then directed to a fake website that resembles a popular site like Hallmark or American Greetings.

Once you are there, a prompt tells you to download the latest version of Flash Player in order to view the e-card. Click that link and a virus is quickly downloaded and attacks your computer. Instead of having your loved one steal your heart, a scammer has stolen your identity.

Consumers should always exercise care in opening e-mails, links or attachments from those they do not know. Especially suspicious are unsolicited messages with subject lines saying “Someone just sent you an e-card” or “Send your loved one a Valentine’s card today.”

Avoid becoming victimized by scammers who rely on the old adage that “love is blind.” Keep a clear head this Valentine’s Day. Contact your Better Business Bureau with questions or concerns if you think someone is going less for your heart and more for your wallet.

This story was originally published February 4, 2012 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Valentine’s scams take aim at your wallet."