🚨 SCAM EDUCATION: “BUT THEY HAVE A PHONE NUMBER FROM MY COUNTRY!”

A phone number is NOT proof of where someone is physically located.

Romance scammers can communicate using:

📱 Virtual/VoIP phone numbers

📱 Prepaid SIM cards

📱 Numbers obtained through other people

📱 Multiple SIMs controlled by organized scam groups

📱 Accounts or numbers obtained fraudulently

📱 Temporary numbers used for account verification

📱 Caller-ID spoofing on some telephone calls

A scammer can be thousands of miles away while appearing to contact you from a number with your own country—or even your own area code.

And when they suddenly say:

“My phone broke.”

“I had to change numbers.”

“This is my work number.”

“I’m overseas, but I kept my old number.”

…don’t assume the explanation makes the number legitimate.

⚠️ PHONE NUMBERS DO NOT VERIFY IDENTITY OR LOCATION.

Verify the person, their photographs, their story and their behavior—not the country code appearing on your screen.

Never send money, cryptocurrency, gift cards, banking information or verification codes to an online romantic interest you cannot independently verify.

Scammers can change numbers. The lies usually stay the same.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.