In my previous post, I talked to you about Romance Fraud Awareness Week U.K. and today I’d like to talk about another important date.
Today is World Romance Scam Prevention Day. A day to honour victims and recognise the organisations working tirelessly every day to bring more awareness, educate the public about romance scams and most importantly, provide support for the victims of this heinous crime.
This is World Romance Scam Prevention Day’s 3rd year, and it looks like it’s growing globally and becoming a uniting force between organisations and the public.
World Romance Scam Prevention Day was founded by Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS), and this year, AARS has partnered with the Centre for Combating Elder Financial Abuse on a special initiative called Unbreaking Project — Kate’s Hugs.
What is Unbreaking Project — Kate’s Hugs?
Unbreaking Project — Kate’s Hug is an initiative by Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS) and the Center for Combating Elder Financial Abuse to support romance scam victims and bridge the gap between law enforcement and survivors.
Unbreaking Project — Kate’s Hugs is funded by survivor Kate Kleinert, the project distributes “Hug Kits” to police departments containing comfort items and educational resources for victims. The goal is to provide empathy, healing, and a message of hope to those impacted by romance scams by equipping local law enforcement with tools for trauma-informed outreach.
A little about the name behind the project…
Ms Kate Kleinert is a romance scam survivor who has bravely transformed her pain into purpose. She has shared her story with US Congress, the media, and at public speaking events across the USA, giving a voice to victims who often remain silent. Her strength and advocacy continue to inspire change and bring compassion to those affected.
What’s in Kate’s ‘Hug Kits’?
Hug Kits contain a comforting blanket that symbolises a compassionate hug, a letter of support from the organisation and a personal message from Kate, along with practical tools and resources for education and victim support. Through the Hug Kits, they aim to restore dignity, hope, and the will to report.
This year, to make an even greater impact, Match Group has joined forces by funding 200 Hug Kits and supporting specialised training for law enforcement on how scammers use manipulation and entrapment to exploit victims.
Links:
Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS)
Center for Combating Elder Financial Abuse
Unbreaking Project — Kate’s Hugs
Kate Kleinert
Match Group
