Even though romance fraud is at an all-time high, you have the power to protect yourself from this deceptive crime:

• Engage your inner skeptic when meeting new people online; it’s too easy for dishonest people to pretend to be someone they aren’t.
• If you have a photo of the person, use your browser’s image search feature to see if it is associated with anyone else.
• If anyone asks for money whom you’ve only met online, chances that it is a fraud are extremely high.

If you find yourself engaged in an online romance scam:

• Cut off contact immediately.
• Notify the platform on which the initial contact took place.
• File a police report. If you get pushback from the police, be persistent. You’ve experienced a crime and having it documented may help with financial recovery down the road. 

If you’ve been targeted by this or other fraud schemes, you are not alone. Find support by calling AARP’s free Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. You can also sign up for free online support sessions to help with emotional recovery. Fraud criminals know no bounds — it can happen to any of us. Know that it is not the victim’s fault; it’s the fault of the criminal who commits the crime.
Join us for a free training on romance scams on February 22.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Rinse and peel onion. Rinse peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes. Dice onion, peppers and tomatoes into ½-inch pieces. Slice mushrooms ¼-inch thick.
3.  Grate cheese.
4. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add onions, mushrooms and peppers. Cook for 3 minutes.
5. Put vegetables in a strainer. Stir in tomatoes. Let sit 3–5 minutes to drain liquid.
6. While veggies are draining, shape dough into a 12-inch pizza round. Use your fingers to stretch and spread the dough.
7. Coat a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Place pizza dough on sheet.
8. Mix dried basil and dried oregano into tomato sauce. If using dried parsley, add now. Spread a layer of sauce across dough.
9. Sprinkle cheese across dough. If using pepperoni, add a layer of slices now.
10. Bake pizza until cheese is melted and crust is browned on the sides and bottom, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven.
11. Add vegetable mixture. Return to oven and bake until pizza is cooked through, 5–10 minutes more. Remove from oven.
12. Let rest for 2 minutes. Using a sharp knife, cut into 8 pieces.

Chef's Notes

• Make your own dough using a Cooking Matters ® whole wheat pizza dough recipe (visit the link below). Or, look for prepared whole wheat pizza dough in the refrigerator section of your store.
• Make mini pizzas using English muffins or pita bread for the crust.
• Top pizza with any vegetables you like — broccoli, red onion, zucchini or others.
• Instead of using canned tomato sauce, make your own.