Attorney General Mark Brnovich is warning Arizonans to be wary of online romance scams after an investigation found Valley residents tried to wire thousands of dollars overseas. In this type of fraud, scammers take advantage of people looking for romantic partners on dating websites and social media. The fraudsters pretend to be romantically interested in their victims, only to lure them into sending money overseas. They will often claim they need money for medical expenses or travel costs. The Attorney General’s Office recently conducted an investigation into online scams originating from Ghana, a hotbed for internet-based fraud. Officers identified numerous victims were tricked into wiring money to scammers in Ghana through a money transmitting business. In May, investigators set up a temporary call center to inform victims about the scam and return their money. Over the course of twenty business days, law enforcement returned nearly $14,000 to victims. Officials warn to never send money to someone you do not know personally, particularly if they are overseas.
