New York State recently passed a new law to help combat Online Romance Scams, aiming to protect consumers from falling victim to scams. The law, which will come into effect on February 19th, was spearheaded by the New York State Department of Consumer Protection and seeks to curb such crimes through stricter supervision and legal penalties.
According to an announcement issued by the New York State government, the law mandates that social media and online dating platforms enhance their identity verification mechanisms to ensure that users are genuine individuals and not operating fake accounts. Furthermore, these platforms are required to establish more effective monitoring systems to detect and remove accounts involved in fraudulent activities, while promptly informing users of potential risks.
Official data reveals that in 2024, New Yorkers suffered financial losses totaling $25 million due to online romance scams, with many victims wiring large sums of money under the false pretense of the scammers’ fabricated identities, only to end up empty-handed. This legislation imposes harsher penalties on scammers, including longer prison sentences and higher fines.
In addition, the New York State government is urging the public to stay vigilant and avoid becoming victims. Consumers are advised to handle online friend requests from strangers with caution, especially when the other party quickly escalates the relationship and requests financial assistance, prompting individuals to be alert and report suspicious behavior to relevant authorities.
Experts recommend that when utilizing online dating platforms, individuals opt for sites with high-security standards, avoid getting too close to unidentified individuals, and regularly check security alerts on platforms to ensure the safety of their finances and personal information.
The New York State government emphasizes that this legislation is just the first step in combating online scams and pledges to continue bolstering supervision to ensure a safer online environment for all users.
Should consumers suspect they have become targets of online romance scams, they can immediately contact the New York State Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-697-1220 or report incidents through the official website www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection for further assistance and guidance.