A romance scam is a type of online fraud where criminals pretend to be romantically interested in someone to gain their trust and then steal money or personal information from them.fbi+2
How Romance Scams Work
Scammers typically create fake profiles on dating sites, apps, or social media. They often use stolen photos of attractive people, sometimes claiming to be in the military or working overseas. After establishing emotional trust through constant communication—sometimes called love bombing—they invent a crisis or urgent need (such as medical emergencies, travel expenses, or legal fees) and ask the victim for money or financial help.consumer.ftc+2
Common Signs of a Romance Scam
- The person professes love quickly or wants to move the relationship off the platform early.
- They avoid meeting in person or refuse to video chat, often citing excuses like being abroad or having a broken camera.
- They ask for money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency—often for emergencies or travel.
- Their stories may involve far-fetched details or inconsistent information about their identity or location.scamwatch+1
Typical Narratives Used
Common excuses include needing money for:
- Airfare or visa fees to visit the victim
- Medical emergencies or hospital bills
- Investment opportunities or shipping of valuables
- Customs or tax fees for gold or inheritancewikipedia
Who They Target
Romance scammers frequently target older adults and socially isolated individuals, who might be more vulnerable to emotional manipulation. In 2021 alone, people reported over $547 million in losses to romance scams in the United States—a dramatic increase from previous years.ncoa+1
How to Protect Yourself
- Be cautious if someone online declares love too quickly.
- Never send money or share financial details with someone you haven’t met in person.
- Verify images and stories using reverse image searches or official channels.
- Report suspicious accounts to the dating site and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov).fbi+2
In summary, romance scams rely on emotional manipulation and false intimacy to extract money or information, often leaving victims both financially and emotionally devastated.wikipedia+1
- https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/romance-scams
- https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-romance-scams
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_scam
- https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/online-dating-and-romance-scams
- https://www.ncoa.org/article/sweetheart-scams-how-to-avoid-being-a-victim/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5806049/
