Romance Scams
Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating apps and social media, build an emotional relationship over weeks or months, and then ask for money. Victims lose billions of dollars a year, and the emotional damage can be as painful as the financial loss.
- Everyone
- Older adults
Photo: dating app chat where the other person asks to move to a different messaging app
How it works
- Contact through a dating app, social media, a game or a “wrong number” text.
- Fast, intense affection and daily messages. They may say they’re in the military overseas, working on an oil rig, a doctor abroad or a contractor on a big job.
- Moving the conversation to a private messaging app.
- Reasons they can’t meet or video chat: broken camera, bad connection, remote location.
- A sudden crisis: medical bills, customs fees, a plane ticket to visit you, a frozen bank account, or an “investment opportunity” they want to share. See Crypto & Investment Scams.
Red flags
- They profess love quickly but have never met you in person
- They always have an excuse not to video chat or meet
- They ask for money, gift cards, crypto, or help moving money
- They ask you to keep the relationship secret
- Their photos look like a model’s, or their story has inconsistencies
- They ask you to receive packages or money and send them on
Check them out
- Do a reverse image search of their profile photos; scammers steal pictures from real people.
- Search their name and story with the word “scam.”
- Insist on a live video call early. Be aware that deepfakes can fake video too, so ask them to do something specific on camera.
- Talk to a trusted friend or family member about the relationship.
Never send money, gift cards, crypto or personal financial information to someone you’ve only met online, no matter how real the relationship feels.
Helping someone else
Victims are often embarrassed or defensive. Be patient and non-judgmental, share information about how these scams work, and offer to help them check the person’s story. See Protecting Older Adults.
If you’ve been scammed
- Stop all contact and don’t send more money.
- Contact your bank and any payment service you used.
- Report the profile to the dating app or social media platform.
- Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Watch for “recovery” scammers who promise to get your money back.
Standards & references
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