Valentine Scammers Out In Force

More than 550 people contacted the ACCC about romance scams in 2009, up from 430 in 2008 and, according to ACCC chairman Peter Kell, many more cases go unreported due to the "embarrassment factor".

Mr Kell warned that scammers tend to target their victims' vulnerabilities, making false promises in return for money. "Scammers target victims by creating fake profiles.

On internet dating sites, chat rooms or introductory services and they go to great lengths to establish a trusting relationship with victims," he said. "These scammers then prey.

On the victim's emotional vulnerability by representing that they wish to travel to Australia or are in urgent need of money and ask for help to pay for airfares, passport, family hospital bills and other costs."

Mr Kell advises the following precautions:

* Only give personal details to persons you know and trust.
* Be wary of anyone who you have not personally met that asks you to send them money, gifts or your banking and credit card details.
* Be very careful about how much personal information you share on social network sites. Scammers can use your information and pictures to create a fake identity.
* Carefully assess people's profiles.
* When you agree to personally meet, tell family and friends where you are going.
* Keep your computer updated with the latest anti-virus and anti-spyware software and use a good firewall.