BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Police are warning of a "catfishing" scheme that ends in armed robbery.
At least six people were targeted within the last five weeks. Police say the victims planned to meet up with someone through a social media or dating website and, when they arrived at a specific meeting place, were robbed by a man at gunpoint.
All of the robberies have taken place at specific addresses in Mattapan and Roxbury.
Security expert Robert Siciliano said, "Red flags are anytime anyone wants to meet you at a home or even at a park. You want to make sure that you're meeting them at a coffee shop or a restaurant. Some populated area where you can get to learn the person so before you feel good enough about them to actually go to an isolated place."
The online profiles involved are believed to be fake. Police believe the suspect or suspects could be "catfishing" victims and setting up false social network accounts to lure the victims in.
Police advised residents to be cautious whenever meeting up with anyone from a social media or dating site. "Catfishers" often use profile pictures of very attractive people to lure their victims and won't Skype or use a web cam. Police also urged residents to always meet strangers in a public place and to never agree to meet anyone at their house.
When asked how prevalent catfishing is, Siciliano said, "We've seen celebrities being catfished every day, people being catfished. It's becoming much more popular as a way to scam people and also a way to hurt people. You need to be aware because this is a very prevalent crime.
Mayor Marty Walsh says police are still investigating, but he's urging people to be cautious.
"I think people have to use some common sense when they're using online and be very careful with your information and when you put too much out there, the world can see it and things can happen," Walsh said.
Siciliano said there is no such thing as a 100-percent safe dating website, whether it's one you paid to join or it was free. That's why he says it's a good idea to Google anyone you're talking to online and search social media for them. If you can't find any information about them, that might be a red flag.