Boston Police are warning the public about an ongoing robbery scheme involving social media and dating websites.
According to police, the victims are making contact with an online profile and agreeing to meet the person depicted in the profile at a specific residence. When the person arrives, they are approached by a male suspect armed with a handgun and robbed. Investigators say there have been six such incidents in the past five weeks. All of the robberies have occurred at residences in Mattapan and Roxbury.
The online profiles are believed to be "catfishing," the act of using a false social network account for deceptive purposes. Members of the public are urged to take precautions when using social media or dating websites.
What to look for:
- He or she seems to good to be true. "Catfishers" will use profile pictures of very attractive people to lure victims.
- The person won't Skype or use a webcam to talk to you.
- The person has an online profile that appears new or incomplete.
If you do meet someone based upon online contact, police say to make sure it is in a public place. Don't agree to meet anyone at their residence.
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If you have been or think you might be a potential victim of a "catfishing" scheme, contact Boston Police.
