It reads like a novel confessing to the scams played out by cyber creeps. Their sinister goal is to take a kind-hearted person down the path of deception with their clever misdeeds.

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You can learn a lot from this brave gal Margaret in Watertown MA who writes in sharing her experience of getting tricked and trapped into an online scam.

"CyberGuy,

The funniest scammers contact me through FB, Instagram, and Tinder. 

They promise love, sex, and marriage, offer cryptocurrency to pay my bills, and promise that [they] will let me take care of their children - because I'm so kind and loving - if I only agree to receive a very large wire transfer from the ME

DON'T LET YOURSELF GET CAUGHT UP IN THESE SHAMEFUL SITUATIONS

They explain that they are Generals on a "Peacekeeping Mission for the UN, "that they are US Naval commanders currently overseas, that they are USAF soldiers currently based in Turkey on a USAF base and oddly enough they aren't being paid.

So, could I please send money right away? These scammers swipe US military servicemen's photos to impress you with their looks, ... ( I was shown a photo of a handgun in an Armory with a soldier's US Army Uniform Sarn't insignia.) Pictures of their injuries which looked authentic.

I'm a nurturing woman - I don't like to see people hurt and abandoned so I fell for their scam. They were multi-lingual and had elaborate explanations describing how they were in a real jam and needed that wire transfer or Western Union payment right away.

They were extremely charming: romantic, attentive, empathetic, sweet, loving, and funny when I kept those gift cards coming. They sent me goofy emojis. They showed up with vans possibly ready to move in or maybe to abduct me - that was hard to discern - the motive.

I exchanged so many texts with them- they had communicated with me so much that I was flattered.

I was wooed in French, Arabic, German, and Spanish via text or the chat room they had set up, which I hoped was private, but Privacy online really doesn't exist.

HOW TO SAFEGUARD YOUR IPHONE AGAINST ACCOUNT LOCKOUTS BY CONNIVING CRIMINALS

I knew I was being played but was so lassoed into the multi-layered pleasure of helping someone else, receiving their thanks, and then being told that they loved me.

My Mom, who was Valedictorian of her High School class, instantly knew it was BS. She sneeringly pointed that out and her doubt increased my anger which then set the stage for me to be mollified by my Online Romeo.

I realized it was a team of scammers and I saw them. They began showing up at the local lakes I went to. They were easy to spot.

 That is weirdness. It happened to me, and I advise my sister women to not be hoodwinked by their charm. " Only The Lonely Can Play. "

- Margaret, Watertown, MA

Thank you for being brave enough to share your warning with others. These types of scams are all too common, and I'm sorry that Margaret fell for these evil people's tricks when she was only trying to help.

Let's go over some red flags to watch out for when you're being scammed.

First off, romance scams are super common, as I have previously mentioned in this article. According to the FTC, looking for love in all the wrong places got nearly 70,000 people ripped off by a romance scam in 2022, just like what happened to Margaret. As you can see above, a scammer will go above and beyond to get money out of you, and they will stop at nothing once you start engaging with them. 

Here's what to look out for.

Certain professions are commonly used as cover-ups among scammers. These are some of the most popular ones:

I'm not exactly sure why they go with these. However, it's likely because these positions typically reflect personality traits like selflessness, honor, and bravery, so why would someone like that want to steal from you?

BALANCING THE PROS AND CONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA SCREEN TIME

If you've never met someone in person and only know information about them based on what they've told you online, then it should be a huge red flag if they're offering to take care of your family, pay your bills, or do any other outrageously generous act. Some people don't get this much help from their lifelong friends, so a stranger online certainly should not be offering it to you, especially if they're asking for money in exchange.

Gift cards are a super common way for scammers to ask for money because they are not traceable. A payment with a credit or debit card is something that could be traced back to the scammer and would get them into legal trouble, so they opt for something more discreet. Do not even send gift cards to anyone you've never met.

HOW TO PREVENT PHONE SCAMS AGAINST OLDER LOVED ONES 

If a person you're speaking to online is legit, then there's no reason why they can't video chat with you, whether it be through FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, or some other platform. If they're refusing to show you their face, then they're probably impersonating someone else.

Again, you should never be giving any personal information to someone online, especially if you only just started conversing with them. A scammer may try to trick you by saying super nice things, however, if you've only just started speaking with them, then it's likely they're just trying to sweet-talk you so that you give them what they want.

They may also ask you for other personal information like your mother's maiden name or the street you grew up on. This could be them trying to guess the correct information on security questions that protect your banking information. Don't fall for it.

HOW HACKERS FIND OUT IF YOU ARE A HIGH VALUE TARGET BEFORE STEALING 

If you think you're a victim of scamming, go to the FTC's website here and report the scammer. The steps for reporting a scam are straightforward, and the FTC will send out alerts to law enforcement immediately to help with investigating the scammers. You can also contact the Better Business Bureau and file a report with them 24/7.

If you sent money to the scammer and want to get it back, you should immediately reach out to your bank or credit/debit card company and report it as fraud. The representatives will then walk you through the steps of how to get your money reimbursed.

If you sent a gift card to the scammer, make sure you keep the receipt for the gift card and report the scam to the gift card company. The representatives there may be able to help you, and it will also help them be aware of scammers using their gift cards for fraud.

If you gave out any personal information like a social security number, follow the steps at IdentityTheft.gov. You'll be able to make a report there and the website will help come up with a recovery plan for you and walk you through each step of gaining your identity back.

If you want a service that will walk you through every step of the identity theft reporting and recovery process, you should consider an identity theft service. 

Identity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. The great part of an identity theft company like my #1 pick is that you’re provided with your own personal case manager that will help you recover any losses.

See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft by visiting CyberGuy.com/IdentityTheft .

This story is also another reminder to always have good antivirus software running on your devices, as romance scams can also entail email and text communications asking the victim to click a link. Having antivirus software on your devices will make sure you are stopped from clicking on any potential malicious links that may be sent in any of your emails or text messages.

See my expert review of the best antivirus protection for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices by visiting CyberGuy.com/LockUpYourTech.

FREE ANTIVIRUS: SHOULD YOU USE IT?

Final thoughts

By reporting when you've been scammed, you can help prevent others from falling victim to the same scam. Even though your heart can get caught up ahead of your thinking process, remember if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Any red flags from scammers that I may have missed? Let us know by writing us at CyberGuy.com/Contact . 

For more of my tips, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to CyberGuy.com/Newsletter . 

Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. 

CLIVE, IOWA – Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is taking aim at the politics of "grievance," in an indirect shot at former President Donald Trump, the front-runner in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

And former Vice President Mike Pence – who along with Scott is expected in the coming weeks to launch a campaign for the White House – is spotlighting his policy differences with his former running mate over a key issue with the Republican base – banning abortion.

Both Scott and Pence – along with a handful of the other actual and potential Republican presidential contenders in the emerging nomination race – were in Iowa this weekend to speak in front of a large crowd of influential evangelical leaders in the state that leads off the GOP nominating calendar.

Scott, a rising star in the GOP and the only Black Republican in the Senate, recently launched a presidential exploratory committee as he offers what he calls an "optimistic, positive message anchored in conservativism."

FIRST ON FOX: TIM SCOTT LAUNCHES 2024 EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE

During a stop Saturday at a farm outside of Des Moines, Scott was asked by Fox News if his message is receptive to Republican primary voters or if they’re hungering for a fighter.

"I think people want a fighter and that’s good, but we also want to win, and that’s better," Scott said. "The real question is how do we do that? And one of the ways we do that is make sure that our message is in synch with what voters want and what the nation needs. And I will say so far, so good. I am excited about where we. I am excited about the response to the message. But we have work to do and we’ll get it done."

WHO'S IN AND WHO'S ON THE SIDELINES — YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE

Trump, who in November launched his third White House run, has continued to relitigate his 2020 election loss to President Biden as he repeats his unproven claims that his defeat was due to an election "stolen" through "massive voter fraud."

The former president listing his legal grievances has also become a campaign staple, and at a rally last month in Texas Trump stressed that "for those who have been wronged and betrayed …I am your retribution."

Scott, taking aim at Trump without mentioning the former president’s name, told reporters that "I believe that our nation has a decision to make – are we going to be the country that focuses on grievance or are we going to be the county that allows the seeds of greatness to germinate. I’m voting for germination, greatness."

Scott, who’s continuing his so-called "Faith in America" listening tour, demurred on whether he’s moving closer to formally launching a presidential campaign. "My goal really isn’t to figure out a timeline, my goal is to continue to listen. The more I listen, the better off I am," he said.

Pence, who’s made numerous trips to Iowa the past two years as he moves towards launching a presidential campaign, said recently that he’ll have a 2024 decision in weeks. He told Fox News on Saturday night after speaking to evangelical voters at a major gathering of the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition in suburban Des Moines that "I’ll keep you posted if I’m going to be spending a lot more time in Iowa."

Trump, addressing the crowd remotely, touted that he was "the most pro-life president in American history" and spotlighted future efforts he would take to restrict abortions.

Trump pointed to the three justices he appointed to the Supreme Court who "delivered a landmark victory for protecting innocent life." He was referring to the blockbuster move last June by the Supreme Court’s conservative majority to overturn the landmark nearly half-century-old Roe v. Wade ruling, which allowed for legalized abortions nationwide. The decision by the high court moved the divisive issue of abortion back to the states.

AFTER SLAP FROM ANTI-ABORTION GROUP, TRUMP TOUTS PRO-LIFE CREDENTIALS

But his position – reiterated this week by his campaign – that in the wake of last year’s high court ruling the issue of abortion restrictions should be left up to the states drew a sharp rebuke Thursday by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a top abortion group. It called Trump’s comments a "morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate."

The group said it would not support any White House candidate who does back – at a minimum - a 15-week federal abortion ban. Trump, in his comments on Saturday, didn’t say whether he’d support a national ban. 

Pence, speaking with reporters, took issue with his former running mate on abortion. The former vice president, answering a question from Fox News, noted his differences with Trump on the issue, saying that last year’s Supreme Court ruling "did not mean that it’s a state’s only issue. All it meant was that states now have the ability to craft legislation that protects the unborn."

"I also hold to the view that Americans want to see leaders at both ends of Pennsylvania Ave. who will stand for the sanctity of life," Pence emphasized. "We’ve got an incredible and historic opportunity to advance the cause of life."

And he reiterated his backing of a federal abortion ban, saying, "I’ll support any effort to support the sanctity of life to the center of American law."

Ramaswamy says he ‘can go further than Trump’

Multi-millionaire entrepreneur, best-selling author, and conservative commentator Vivek Ramaswamy is pushing an America First agenda as he runs for the GOP presidential nomination.

And like Scott, he’s taking aim at Trump over the former president’s grievances.

"Part of the reason that I think I can go further than Trump is that like Reagan, when can get more done if we’re doing it based on first principles and yes, I will say it – moral authority rather than just based on vengeance and grievance," Ramaswamy argued in a Fox Digital interview in Jefferson, Iowa after addressing an Iowa Federation of Republican Women event.

And Ramaswamy think, "You only get to be an outsider once. I’m 37 years old. I’ve got fresh legs. I’m ready to go the distance. And eight years from now, maybe I’ll be jaded, cynical, tired, and defeated too. But today, I’m actually ready to carry that torch forward. And to me, it’s about taking that America First agenda to the next level."

Perry Johnson vows to earn ‘every vote’

Ramaswamy was making his way across Iowa in a campaign bus. But he wasn’t the only candidate sporting a bus. So was Michigan businessman Perry Johnson, who declared his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination early last month.

Johnson, in a Fox News Digital interview in Des Moines this weekend, spotlighted that he was campaigning the Iowa way – with candidate-to-voter retail style politics.

"We are going diner to diner, earning every vote," he emphasized. And asked about his long-shot status, Johnson countered that "nobody knows anything until you get to that debate stage."

Speaking to the crowd at the Iowa Faith and Freedom gathering, Johnson noted that he’s "pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, anti-woke, anti-China, pro-American worker." And he spotlighted his "two cents to save America" plan.

"We’re going to cut two cents out of every dollar. That means the government’s not going to be spending all that money, they’re reducing it every year, and we’re going to balance that budget," he explained.

Johnson ran last year for the 2022 GOP gubernatorial nomination in Michigan and was considered a top contender before he and four other Republican hopefuls were disqualified because of invalid signatures. Like Ramaswamy, he’s invested millions of his own money in his White House bid.