ONLINE ROMANCE AND Q-NET SCAM
Migrating from Africa to Europe and the West has taken a different
dimension, with the emerging of human trafficking, slavery and scamming. Online
Romance scams, employment scams, and Q-net schemes are some tactics
used by criminals to swindle funds from victims via online platforms.
Q-Net is a scheme where individuals are unscrupulously promised financial
gain through investment in a Ponzi scheme or job opportunities abroad. Upon
transfer of funds, the criminal (s) coordinate the traveling activities of the
victim to a nearby country, where identification documents are seized and
they are confined to an apartment rented for their activities. The document
seized from victim’s are use for cash-out transfers effectuated by the latter’s
family and friends after being fetished, so they cannot escape, nor report to
the police. Even after being rescued, they still believe they could recover their
funds. A Cameroonian lady recounts her ordeal:
‘‘I stumbled upon the Q-net agent on social media. He promised that if I
invested two hundred thousand Francs CFA (200,000 XAF), I’d will gain double,
get a well-paid job, free lodging and food. I was glad that I’d rescues my family
from poverty and promised them to send a container home after six months. I
also thought of my marriage to a guy I met online. When I was about to leave
Cameroon, I told my family I’d transit through Nigeria. Unfortunately, this
never happened as I stumbled upon criminals, who tortured me for over a year.
I ate once day at 6 pm wasn’t allowed to step out, and was starved for
disobedience, I was beaten and starved. I developed a stomach ulcer before I
was rescued’’ Anette…
Prior to new security protocols, online dating and romance scams have been
a scheme for migration. Online Romance scams involve emotional manipulation and
cyberbullying, as criminals use victim data to their advantage. They exploit new
technologies and online dating platforms, create false identities to gain trust
and establish a sense of intimacy with their client. Often, they suggest taking
the “relationship” offline or communicating via private fora, claiming they’ll
be inactive on social media due to travel. A victim reveals her ordeal:
‘‘I met this fellow online and thought he loved me. At the beginning he
expressed interest of taking our relationship to the next level. As time went on
he requested my financial credentials, saying his business partners would
deposit money into my account, deduct a fee, and transfer the rest via PayPal
to him. I fell for charming words and shared compromising pictures of myself.
He had gain my trust, and could effectuate any transactions he wishes with my
account, pending his arrival in Europe to reside with me. I didn’t know i was
dealing with the devil. Months later, he transferred a huge sum of money from
my account to other accounts and stopped communicating till date. I almost
committed suicide’’ Brenda…
Romance scams have devastating financial and emotional impacts on victims.
Some warning signs include:
Inconsistent Stories: Personal details or narratives don’t make sense. Most
criminals are not coherent and often avoid answering specific questions.
Financial Requests: The modus operandi keeps mutating as criminals no
longer request emergency funding. Instead they exploit victims accounts for
illicit financial transactions. Most at times they request funds to be wired via
cryptocurrency and gift cards.
Use of Technology: With the emergence of AI and deepfake, criminals easily
generate images/ videos and dial numbers using someone else’s persona to
appear more convincing during video discussion.
Secrecy and Intimacy: Criminals lull victims in to sharing nudes in order to
blackmail/harass them if they refuse adhere to some of their requests or want
to report to the police. They go as far as discouraging victims from sharing the
‘‘relationship’’ details, threatening to share the nudes online.
Some individuals are continually victimized because they are not keen to the
writing style, cheesy clich́es, and photographs typically use for extortion by
their ‘‘lovers’’. It is unconvincing that most victims are not doubtful on the
illusionary promises made by the criminals. recognizing the harm, it is
essential to comprehend and analyze the persuasive language used as a
strategy to coerce the victims of online romance scams.
Conclusion
Criminals exploit vulnerabilities and create false connections, making it easy
for anyone to be deceived. The shame tied to these experiences often
explains why individuals hide their stories, isolate themselves, and feel unsure
if they are safe after reporting to the police. It’s important to note that anyone
can be targeted in a romance scam, and so victims deserve compassion and
support as they heal. The internet is a global market, requiring one to be careful
about personal information input on dating sites. Always read the terms and
conditions, and ask questions to mitigate risk. It is also necessary to research
the person you’re connecting with, checking for spelling, grammar and
inconsistencies in their stories. Don’t share any compromising data that could
be used to blackmail you. Beware of financial transactions to unidentified
individuals: money laundering is a criminal offence.
