Romance Scams
Romance Scam
Scammers create fake profiles on dating apps or social media, build romantic relationships, then ask for money for emergencies or investments.
Reported Losses
$1.1 billion (FTC 2024)
Primary Targets
Single adults of all ages, especially 50+
Last Updated
2026-01-06
Also Known As
Catfish Scam
How Scammers Contact You
How This Scam Works
Romance scammers create attractive, fake profiles and build emotional connections before asking for money.
**The Pattern:** 1. **The Profile**: Attractive photos (often stolen from models or military personnel), claims to be widowed, in military, or working overseas 2. **The Love Bombing**: Intense attention, constant messages, quick declarations of love 3. **The Relationship**: Daily communication, pet names, future plans together 4. **The Crisis**: After weeks or months, an "emergency" happens — medical bills, stuck overseas, business problem 5. **The Ask**: Request for money via wire transfer, crypto, or gift cards 6. **The Cycle**: Once you pay, more emergencies follow
**They never meet in person.** There's always an excuse: military deployment, working on oil rig, visa issues, COVID complications.
Red Flags to Watch For
- ⚠️Profile seems too good to be true — very attractive, successful, perfect match
- ⚠️Claims to be military, doctor overseas, or working on oil rig
- ⚠️Falls in love quickly without meeting you
- ⚠️Always has excuses why they can't video chat or meet
- ⚠️Asks for money for any reason — emergency, plane ticket, business deal
- ⚠️Requests payment via wire transfer, crypto, or gift cards
- ⚠️Photos don't match when you reverse image search
- ⚠️Writing style seems inconsistent or scripted
📝 Real Victim Account
"I met 'David' on a dating site. He was a widowed surgeon working with the UN in Syria. We talked every day for four months. He said he loved me and wanted to marry me. Then he needed $30,000 for a medical emergency. I sent it. Then he needed more for his visa, then for shipping his belongings. I sent over $100,000 before my daughter showed me his photos were stolen from a Spanish model's Instagram."
— FBI IC3 Romance Scam Report
How to Protect Yourself
- 1Reverse image search their profile photos
- 2Insist on video calls early in the relationship
- 3Never send money to someone you haven't met in person
- 4Be suspicious of anyone who falls in love before meeting you
- 5Research their claimed profession — military service can be verified
- 6Tell friends and family about online relationships — get outside perspective
- 7Trust your instincts — if something feels wrong, it probably is
🆘 What to Do If You're a Victim
- 1Stop all contact with the scammer immediately
- 2Don't send any more money, no matter what they say
- 3Save all communications and evidence
- 4Report to the dating app or social media platform
- 5Report to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- 6Report to FBI IC3 at ic3.gov
- 7Talk to someone you trust — romance scam victims need support
- 8Be aware of recovery scams — people claiming they can get your money back
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📚 Sources & References
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