From love to lies: How romance scams turn victims into drug mules

Australia Overnight with Clinton Maynard

With former Greens candidate Donna Nelson being sentenced to six years jail in Japan for importing 2kg of methamphetamine, the spotlight has turned to drug mules and romance scams.

Over $201 million was reported as lost to romance scammers last year and that’s just the tip of the iceberg according to Dating Coach & Founder of Aligned Connections, Karina Chapman.

Donna Nelson was duped by online romance scammer ‘Kelly’, by accepting a free holiday, and transporting a suitcase.

Karina tells Clinton, “Scammers build relationships over time with vulnerable people before asking them to send money or carry a package. This can result in victims stuck in international prisons for years for something they didn’t intentionally do.”

Karina says five things you can do to keep yourself safe from international scammers are:

1. Insist on a video chat.
2. Meet in a neutral location.
3. Listen to your gut.
4. Never send money, and 5. Never agree to carry anything that’s not yours.

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