Want a happy Valentine’s? Look out for love scams

We don’t know much, but we do know true love wouldn’t scheme you out of a phone. Here’s how to avoid the cruellest scam of all.

Look, when it comes to love, we’re all learning, and the only guarantee anyone can give is that there are no guarantees.

There’s simply no way to completely rule out getting your fingers burned, or your hopes being crushed by Mo Salah and yet another goal against your beloved Man United.

But there are a few small ways you can hedge your bets against a heartbreak, beyond just maintaining your dental hygiene and keeping your home’s cat population down to less than three p/m2.

Specifically, you can keep your eyes peeled for love scammers, AKA the cruelest jerks of all. Giving you the heads up about this particular breed of reptile is the least we can do for you, our beloved customers, right around this year’s Valentine’s Day. 

What’s a love scam?

Aside from this potion I bought from a mysterious gypsy which only seemed to attract a flock of pigeons, a love scam involves someone who is either an Optus customer or someone pretending to be an Optus customer approaching a victim online and befriending them.

Then, once they’ve gained their trust, the scammer then asks the person to order phones from Optus on their behalf and promises to send money through once the handsets have arrived.

And that’s when it gets cruel. After months of whispering sweet nothings to the victim, the scammer then starts making excuses about how they can’t get the money after all and eventually cuts off all contact, leaving the victim with a broken heart and a big bill for phones they’ll never see.

It’s a scheme so devilish that it’s almost worthy it its own Netflix true-crime docu-series.

Next steps if you’ve been scammed

If you’re unlucky enough to have been scammed or you’re there to support a loved one who has been scammed (now that’s real love) there are some simple steps you should take immediately to help reduce the impact.

1 - Get in touch as soon as possible

Give us a call on 133 937 or message us on My Optus app to discuss your situation and hopefully we can help. These scams in particular aren’t uncommon, so rest assured, you’re not alone.

2 - Report the scam to Scamwatch

Scamwatch is the Government agency dedicated to fighting scams like this one. If you’ve been scammed, reporting it to them could help prevent the same scam happening to someone else, or even bring the perpetrators to justice.

And we don’t know about you, but that gives us the warm and fuzzies.

3 - Contact your financial institution

Your bank is concerned with scams too because they cost millions of dollars a year. Get in touch with them and tell them what happened, they may be able to help.

Tips for avoiding scams

While we ourselves would like a few pointers on the big game of love, we can offer you a few tips on staying out of scams’ way.

• Never promise to buy someone something in your name on someone else’s behalf, especially if you’ve never met them.
• Don’t assume a stranger online will follow through and give you the money. It’s always safer to assume they won’t.
• Keep an eye on vulnerable family members, and don’t let them get scammed either. Try and stay aware of any suspicious activity or relationships.

Help keep life online safe and enjoyable

When it comes to family, fun is always better when it’s safe. Keep your eyes on amazing government resources like the Office of The eSafety Commissioner and Scamwatch, and talk to your loved ones regularly about how they can stay a little safer online. 

Find the latest advice about scams on our scams page.

Explore our Family Hub for more great advice and information. Or, if you’re looking for a way to keep connected and bring your family together, explore our Family Plans for generous data and amazing value.