Valentine's Day scams: Beware phony romances, fake shopping offers

Unfortunately, scams trying to steal your heart and money are, too. As Valentine's Day nears, potential scammers are attempting to take advantage, focused on stealing personal information or money. Whether you're looking for love on social networks or dating sites or looking to buy a special gift for your loved one, scammers are lurking to trick you. This season in particular, as many Americans remain homebound due to COVID-19 outbreaks, the number of scams related to romance or Valentine's Day is on the rise. Lynette Owens, global director of internet safety at Trend Micro, said scams related to romance are up 20% over last year, caused by the "double whammy" of people staying online more due to the pandemic and increased isolation.