Welcome to our Salt Scams Warning in which we look into scams on the Salt platform, a Christian dating site and app found at be-salt.com.
Online dating scams have become increasingly prevalent in recent years as more people turn to dating apps and websites to find romantic partners.
The Utah Department of Public Safety warns about romance scams, which occur when criminals adopt fake identities to gain victims’ trust and manipulate or steal from them. In 2020, victims of romance scams lost over $600 million, with victims in Utah losing over $6 million. Con artists can be found on dating and social media sites and are experts at appearing genuine and caring.
Scammers often create fake profiles using attractive photos and false information, and they use these profiles to establish relationships with unsuspecting victims.
Once the scammer has gained the victim’s trust, they may begin to request money.
Online dating scams can be financially devastating for victims, and they often involve sophisticated tactics such as fake documents, forged identification, and fake websites.
It is important for individuals to exercise caution when using online dating platforms and to be aware of the warning signs of potential scams.
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Recently, we received a complaint from a person who claims being scammed for $108,500.
On December 2nd, a person using the name Liam Villiam, aged 65 and claiming to be a widower, presented themselves on the SALT-Christian dating site. They claimed to work as a Mechanical Technician. After exchanging text messages on the dating site for a day or two, the person called the other party.
About two weeks later, on December 14, 2022, the person informed the other party that they were going to China for business. Upon arrival, the person claimed to not have a VPN and wanted to transfer funds for the materials they had brought with them to be shipped. They claimed that they needed to pay for the shipment and the translator using an app called Any Desk. They used the app to log into their bank account in order to complete the transaction.
However, within a day or two, the person informed the other party that they had been locked out of their bank account and were unable to complete the transaction. They claimed that they needed 60K Canadian dollars to get the items shipped, as well as for lodging, and to cover additional expenses such as being detained, obtaining an exit visa, hiring a lawyer, and overstaying their visa. All of these expenses totaled over 100K Canadian dollars.
What happened here exactly?
Someone using a false identity presented themselves as a widower and Mechanical Technician on a Christian dating site and communicated with another party.
The person claimed they were going to China for business and needed funds to pay for the shipment of materials, and used an app called Any Desk to log into their bank account.
The person later claimed they had been locked out of their account and needed money to cover expenses, including being detained and overstaying their visa.
It appears that the person using the false identity on the dating site may have been attempting to perpetrate a “romance scam.”
In this type of scam, a fraudster creates a fake online persona and uses it to establish a relationship with an unsuspecting victim, often through a dating site or social media.
Once the victim has developed feelings of trust and affection, the scammer then begins requesting money for a variety of reasons. In this case, the scammer claimed to be in China and needed money to cover various expenses, including being detained and overstaying their visa.
The use of the Any Desk app to access the scammer’s bank account is also a red flag. It is possible that the scammer was attempting to gain access to the victim’s bank account information through the app, or that they were using the app to manipulate the victim into sending them money.
Understanding Romance Scams
Romance scams are a type of online fraud where criminals create fake profiles on dating sites or social media platforms to establish relationships with unsuspecting victims.
These scammers often use attractive photos, fake names, and elaborate backstories to build trust with their victims.
Once the scammer has established a relationship, they may ask for money for various reasons, such as medical emergencies, travel expenses, or investments.
Scams on SALT
SALT is a Christian dating site and app that aims to provide a safe and secure platform for Christians to connect and build meaningful relationships. It is designed to be easy to use and allows users to create a profile, browse other profiles, and message other members.
SALT also offers resources and advice on safe online dating and provides tools to help users report suspicious or inappropriate behavior. They emphasize that if someone is pressuring you or you suspect it’s a scam, you should report it immediately.
SALT itself does not seem to be a scam even though there are some negative reviews. For example, on the Google Play store people are saying that the app has a decent layout but requires payment to see likes and has expensive boost options. One reviewer experienced app crashes and lost matches, while another found the account setup process frustrating. The app lacks autocorrect and the ability to view multiple lines of text when typing. There is a recurring notification prompt without a clear option to disable it. One user paid for a subscription but received no responses or likes. A bug in the messaging/chat feature on Android causes slow and erratic typing. The support email is also no longer in use apparently…
We could not find many examples of scams that have occurred on the platform, however by looking into the warnings provided by SALT, we can learn about potential scams that can be encountered on the platform:
- Emergency Scams: Scammers posing as someone in need of financial assistance or claiming to be in an emergency situation, asking for money to be sent through wire transfer.
- Phishing Scams: Scammers attempt to trick users into sharing personal information, such as usernames and passwords, by posing as a legitimate organization through fake emails or websites.
- Long-Distance and Overseas Relationship Scams: Scammers may pretend to be from the same country as the victim but are stranded overseas, requesting financial aid to come back home.
- Catfishing: Scammers create fake online profiles to deceive and manipulate victims into sending money or sharing personal information.
- Online Harassment and Offensive Behavior: This includes any behavior that violates the terms of the platform, such as underage users, harassment, offensive messages, inappropriate or harmful behavior during or after meeting in person, fraudulent profiles, and spam or solicitation.
How to Avoid Scams on SALT
To protect yourself from romance scams, it is important to take precautions such as:
- Being cautious of people who contact you out of the blue, especially if they seem too good to be true
- Avoiding sharing personal information such as your full name, address, or financial information
- Being wary of people who ask for money or financial assistance
- Meeting in person or via video chat before becoming too emotionally invested in the relationship
- Reporting suspicious activity to the dating site or platform
- By being aware of the signs of romance scams and taking proactive steps to protect yourself, you can reduce your risk of becoming a victim of this type of online fraud.
Here are some tips for staying safe while using SALT:
Never send money, especially via wire transfer, to anyone on the dating site or app, even if they claim to be in an emergency. Wiring money is similar to sending cash and it’s very difficult to reverse or trace where the money went. Additionally, one should never share any information that could potentially be used to access their financial accounts. If another user asks for money, it should be reported immediately.
Protect Your Personal Information
The advice is to never share personal information, such as home or work addresses or details about your daily routine, with people you don’t know. If you’re a parent, it’s recommended to limit the information you share about your children on your profile and in early communications, such as their names, school, ages, or genders.
Stay on the Platform
It is advisable to keep your conversations with other members on the SALT platform while you are still in the process of getting to know them. This is because some users with bad intentions may attempt to move the conversation to other communication channels like messaging apps, email, or phone, where they can bypass the Safe Message Filters set up by SALT.
Be Wary of Long Distance and Overseas Relationships
Be cautious of scammers who pretend to be from your country but are stranded elsewhere, especially if they request financial aid to come back home.
Stay alert of individuals who refuse to meet in person or engage in a phone or video call, as they may not be genuine.
If someone is avoiding your questions or pressuring you to start a serious relationship without first getting to know you, that could be a warning sign.
Report All Suspicious and Offensive Behavior
If you encounter any behavior that violates the terms of SALT, you can report it by blocking and reporting the user. This includes requests for money, underage users, harassment, offensive messages, inappropriate or harmful behavior during or after meeting in person, fraudulent profiles, and spam or solicitation.
You can report any concerns about suspicious behavior from any profile page.
Protect Your Account
Choose a strong password and avoid logging in to your SALT account from a public or shared computer.
Users are warned that SALT will never send an email requesting their username and password. If they receive an email like that, they should report it right away.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
To avoid falling victim to a romance scam, it is important to be aware of the warning signs. These may include:
- The person quickly professes their love for you and wants to move the relationship forward quickly
- The person avoids meeting in person or is always unavailable for video chat
- The person asks for money or financial assistance, either directly or indirectly
- The person’s story or background seems too good to be true or changes frequently
- The person asks for personal information or tries to get you to click on suspicious links or download files
There are many red flags to watch out for when using dating sites or apps, including:
Requests for money or financial information: If someone you’ve just met online asks for money or financial information, it is a major red flag. Wiring money is similar to sending cash and is very difficult to reverse or trace.
Pressure to move the conversation off the platform: If someone you’re talking to on the dating site or app is trying to move the conversation to another communication channel like messaging apps, email, or phone, it may be a warning sign. This is especially true if they are pressuring you to move quickly.
Refusal to meet in person or engage in video calls: If someone you’re interested in is avoiding meeting in person or engaging in a phone or video call, it could be a red flag. They may not be genuine, or they may be hiding something.
Inconsistencies in their profile or communication: If there are inconsistencies in someone’s profile or communication, such as their age, location, or the information they provide, it could be a red flag. It’s possible that they are not who they claim to be.
Limited availability: If someone you’re interested in is only available at odd hours or seems to be unavailable during certain times, it could be a red flag. They may be juggling multiple conversations or relationships.
Disrespectful behavior: If someone you’re talking to is disrespectful or abusive in their communication, it is a major red flag. This type of behavior is not acceptable and should not be tolerated.
Pressure to commit too quickly: If someone you’ve just met online is pressuring you to commit to a serious relationship without getting to know you first, it could be a red flag. Take your time and get to know someone before committing to anything serious.
If you encounter any of these red flags, it’s important to trust your instincts and proceed with caution. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so report any suspicious behavior to the dating site or app and take steps to protect yourself.
How to Verify the Identity of Someone you Meet on SALT
Verifying the identity of someone you meet on SALT can be challenging, but there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of connecting with a genuine person. Here are some tips:
Use the Safe Message Filters: SALT has a feature that filters out potentially harmful messages and blocks messages that contain personal contact information, such as email addresses and phone numbers. This feature helps protect users from scammers and other fraudulent users.
Ask for multiple photos: Ask the person to send you multiple photos of themselves, preferably in different settings or situations. This can help you verify that they are who they claim to be and that the photos are recent.
Video chat: Request a video chat with the person using the video chat feature on SALT. This allows you to see the person in real-time and verify that they are who they claim to be.
Social media check: Check if the person has social media accounts, such as Facebook or LinkedIn, and see if their profile information matches the information they provided on SALT.
Reverse image search: Use a reverse image search engine, such as Google Images, to see if the photos the person sent you are posted elsewhere online. If the photos appear on multiple websites, it could be a sign that they are not genuine.
It’s important to remember that no method of verification is foolproof, and scammers can be very convincing. Always proceed with caution and trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right or you suspect that someone is not who they claim to be, report it to SALT immediately.
Reporting Scams on SALT
If you encounter any behavior on SALT that violates the terms of service or you suspect to be a scam, you can report it to the SALT support team by blocking and reporting the user.
Reporting scams on SALT is crucial to protect other users from falling victim to similar fraudulent activities. By reporting suspicious behavior or scams, users can help SALT’s security team identify and take action against scammers, and potentially prevent them from targeting other members in the future.
In addition to protecting other users, reporting scams can also help SALT improve its security measures and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. By analyzing patterns in scam reports, SALT can identify common tactics used by scammers and develop more effective strategies to prevent such activities.
Reporting scams can also give users a sense of control and agency in a potentially vulnerable situation. It can be empowering to take action against scammers and help keep the SALT community safe. Overall, reporting scams on SALT is not only important for protecting oneself but also for safeguarding the wider community.
To block a user, go to their profile and click on the “Block” button. This will prevent them from contacting you further.
To report a user, click on the “Report” button located on their profile or within your message thread. This will bring up a menu of options for reporting the user’s behavior.
In addition to blocking and reporting the user, you can also contact the SALT support team directly to report the scam or suspicious behavior. You can do this by navigating to the help center on the SALT website or app and submitting a support request.
When reporting a scam, it’s important to provide as much information as possible about the user and their behavior, including any messages they have sent you and any actions they have taken that violate the terms of service. The more information you can provide, the better equipped the SALT support team will be to investigate and take appropriate action.
Bottom Line – SALT Scams
Online dating scams can be financially devastating.
To avoid scams, people should exercise caution when using online dating platforms, and be aware of the warning signs.
SALT is a Christian dating site and app. Potential scams that can be encountered on the platform include emergency scams, phishing scams, long-distance and overseas relationship scams, catfishing, and online harassment and offensive behavior. To avoid being scammed, people should be cautious of people who seem too good to be true, avoid sharing personal information, meet in person or via video chat before becoming too emotionally invested, and report suspicious activity to the dating site or platform.
It is important to exercise caution and stay vigilant when using SALT or any other online dating platform. Romance scams are a real threat, and they can have devastating financial and emotional consequences for their victims.
To protect yourself, it’s essential to be aware of the warning signs of potential scams, such as someone requesting money, using false identities or fake documents, and asking for personal information.
Always be cautious of people who contact you out of the blue and seem too good to be true. Be wary of those who ask for financial assistance or share personal information too quickly. Additionally, consider meeting in person or via video chat before getting too emotionally invested in a relationship.
Remember to report suspicious activity to the dating site or platform, and never send money or share financial information with anyone online. By taking these precautions and staying informed, you can help keep yourself and others safe while using online dating platforms like SALT.
If you have are a victim, please let us know by commenting below this SALT Scams Warning post.
If you have lost a significant amount of money to online scams, such as SALT scams, do not lose hope. We can help you recover your funds!
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