Scammers are on the rise this Valentine’s Day

Love is in the air, but don’t get scammed this Valentine’s Day.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost $143 million last year to romance scams.

That’s a higher total than for any other type of scam and they’re on the rise.

Romance scammers are busy wooing people on popular dating sites, apps and social networking sites.

So, if an online love interest asks you for money, don’t fall for it.

The person pretending to be your sweetheart may be a scammer.

Last year alone, individuals reported a median loss of $2,600 from romance scams.

You should look out for anyone who requests money and can’t meet in person or has inconsistencies in their stories.

But the bottom line is, never send money or gifts to someone you haven’t met in person.

Experts say if you suspect you are being scammed, cut off all contact right away.

You should also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission and notify the dating site where you met the scammer.