The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is urging the public to stay alert and protect themselves from increasingly common Cyber Love Frauds.

Scammers are targeting individuals through social media, dating apps, and messaging platforms, creating fake romantic relationships to exploit emotions and steal money.

How Cyber Love Fraud Works:

•  Initial Contact: The scammer often begins by reaching out to you through a dating site or social media.
•  Building Trust: Over time, they’ll build a personal connection, making you feel like you’ve found someone special.
•  The Request for Money: Once trust is built, the scammer will fabricate an emergency or urgent situation (medical issue, travel emergency, etc.) and request money or gifts.
• Red Flags: These scammers are skilled at manipulating emotions and often create convincing stories

How to Protect Yourself:

• Do Your Research
• Don’t Send Money
• Never send sexually explicit images
• Talk to a Trusted Person
• Report Suspicious Activity

If you or someone you know is a victim, report the fraud making a report at one of the sheriff stations or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and inform the platform where you met the scammer. 

For more information, click here. 

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.