FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Scammers may be using your heart to get to your wallet. Police have a warning for you if you're looking for love online.
Fort Myers Police are warning those who use online dating sites -- specifically those using the website "Plenty of Fish."
The latest scam involves users being contacted through "Plenty of Fish" by another member with "interest" to meet, requesting an exchange of phone numbers. Once the customer provides their phone number, the scammer calls them from a phone that shows as "Fort Myers Police Department" on caller ID. The scammer then claims that the member they've been speaking with was an underage person, and must pay up to avoid facing charges.
The real police department says it's not the one making the calls, and that it'll never seek money in exchange for charges being dropped.
Police suggest that if you are ever in doubt about who is calling, you can request the name of the person with whom you are speaking; hang up and call the police department directly at (239-321-7700) and request to be connected with the person you were speaking with.
You should never provide any personal information or banking information over the phone or e-mail.
