WASHINGTON — Four years after getting divorced, Beth Hyland, 54, decided it was finally time to start dating again. She had never used dating apps, but after hearing success stories from work colleagues, she thought, “So, I thought I’d try it.” Little did she know, this decision would change her life forever.
Hyland met someone named “Richard,” who claimed to be a French project manager for a construction company. Their connection seemed perfect as they constantly texted and talked on the phone. However, unbeknownst to Hyland, “Richard” wasn’t really who he said he was. Her experience, along with countless others, has catalyzed federal legislation in Congress aimed at protecting users from scammers.
Senators Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., introduced a bill that intends to require dating apps and social media companies to flag scams and notify users who interact with suspicious accounts. At a recent Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Blackburn brought Hyland to the forefront, stating, “I do want to recognize Beth Hyland. She is a survivor of this crime. She drove nine hours to be here in the audience with us today.”
With her heart set on their relationship, Hyland fell victim to “love bombing” – a tactic where scammers bombard their target with compliments and endearment. One month into their now very serious relationship, when “Richard” asked for financial help, she obliged. "We professed our undying love for each other,” she recounted, consumed by emotion.
“Richard” claimed he needed financial support for a construction project in Qatar, but his bank account was locked. Hyland, believing in their future together, took out loans amounting to $26,000 and transferred the funds to him in bitcoin. “Why wouldn’t I help my fiancé if I knew the money was coming back?” she thought. However, soon after sending the money, he informed her of a $50,000 activation fee to access the funds.
Initially hesitant, Hyland reached out to her trusted financial advisor. “Beth, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but I think you’re in a romance scam,” he revealed. Unable to believe it at first, the reality shattered her dreams. “It destroyed everything in my mind and future,” she said. After a week of turmoil, she ended the relationship, even as “Richard” threatened suicide to persuade her otherwise.
Eventually, Hyland discovered that her scammer was part of a criminal group from Nigeria known as the “Yahoo boys.” Law enforcement couldn’t catch him, which added to her desperation and humiliation. “In the physical world, there are laws against this,” Blackburn noted. “They have not been applied to the virtual space.”
Despite the passage of the legislation out of the Senate Commerce Committee on a bipartisan basis, bills aimed at regulating big tech tend to face delays in Congress. Blackburn also noted a related push, the Kids Online Safety Act, designed to enhance protections for minors online, which passed with broad support yet stalled in the House. “They should be making their platforms safe... but they are choosing not to,” Blackburn remarked, clearly frustrated with tech companies’ apathy towards user safety.
April Helm, a journalist based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, became passionate about spreading awareness after her 70-year-old mother fell victim to a scam, losing $350,000. “I could tell that it was a scam instantly,” Helm shared. Her mother, a recent widow, was drawn in by a much younger man online and ended up losing not only her house and car but ultimately her life, leading to trauma for Helm. “Scammers try to keep you delirious,” she explained, noting how such emotional manipulation often leads to tragic outcomes.
Helm stresses the importance of awareness about romance scams and emphasizes the need for victims to share their stories. She started a podcast focused on informing listeners about the red flags to watch for when interacting with potential partners on dating sites.
The struggle isn’t limited to romance scams; sextortion has emerged as a growing concern, particularly among young men. A college student reminisced about his own experience of being scammed and subsequently blackmailed after sending nude photos. He fell prey to a recovery scam when he sought assistance to remove the images, which added to his despair. “They are far worse than the sextortionists,” he remarked about the scammers who took advantage of his vulnerability.
The FBI has warned about assistance scams related to sextortion. They highlight that many companies promise to remove explicit content but fail to deliver, urging victims to contact law enforcement instead. Cybersecurity expert Jessica Smith noted how recovery scammers often infiltrate support forums, preying on desperate victims. “You’re not thinking clearly, and you make bad decisions,” she explained.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) offers a free service called Take It Down to help victims of sextortion. However, many victims, especially those over 18, may not be aware of options such as StopNCII.org, which provides similar assistance.
The impact of sextortion and the subsequent fraud on victims can be devastating, affecting their mental health severely. Young adults, particularly teenagers, struggle to navigate their emotions during such crises. Experts warn that the trauma from these scams can lead to long-term mental health issues.
In the wake of these harrowing experiences, both Hyland and Helm advocate for more education and resources to protect those who may fall prey to online scandals. “This is gonna hurt. I need to deal with the emotions,” recalled Hyland, emphasizing her commitment to fighting for victims like herself.
As Congress takes steps towards increasing protections against online fraud, the need for collective awareness in society remains paramount. Navigating the digital landscape requires vigilance, empathy, and a willingness to speak out about scams that continue to rise.
