DALLAS, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As millions of Americans celebrate the most romantic day of the year, ScamAwareness.Org has launched a public service campaign to warn consumers about the "Romance Scam," which cost U.S. consumers more than $200 million* in 2015.

"ScamAwareness.Org is committed to educating consumers about common scams and protecting them from becoming victims," says Juan Agualimpia, executive director, ScamAwareness.Org. "One of the ways we do this is through a series of public service announcements. These ads appear on television stations across the country to help consumers recognize warning signs of a scam. We hope consumers will watch and share this public service announcement with others."

The romance scam typically begins online through a dating site or social media. The scammer quickly professes his or her love for the victim. After winning the victim's trust, the scammer will ask them to send money through a wire transfer claiming to have an emergency, or even for travel costs to finally meet the unsuspecting victim. Once the victim wires the money, they never hear from the scammer again, and there's no way to get the money back.

Warning Signs of Online Dating Scam Artist:


    --  Ask you to leave the dating website you met through and to communicate
        using personal e-mail or instant messaging;
    --  Professes instant feelings of love;
    --  Makes plans to visit you but is then unable to do so because of a tragic
        event; or
    --  Asks for money for a variety of reasons (travel, medical emergencies,
        hospital bills for child or relative, visas or other official
        documents).

ScamAwareness.Org advises consumers who use online dating sites to stick to those with nationally known reputations and reminds all consumers to never send money to someone they don't know. For more information about the Romance Scam and others visit ScamAwareness.Org.

*FBI

About ScamAwareness.Org
 ScamAwareness.Org was founded by MoneyGram (NASDAQ:MGI) to raise awareness of common scams that target consumers. It provides tips and information that teach people to recognize the "red flags" that may indicate potential scams, and arm them with information that they can use to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Media Contact:
 Michelle Buckalew
media@moneygram.com
214-979-1418

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SOURCE ScamAwareness.org