● HIGH RISK

Romance Scam

A profile that is a little too perfect builds a relationship fast, then — always before you have met in person — an emergency arrives that only money can fix. The person may not exist; the photos are usually stolen. Affection is the lever, and the asks do not stop after the first one.

Losses: $1.1 billion (FTC 2024)

Targets: Single adults of all ages, especially 50+

Updated: 2026-01-06

Also known as: Catfish Scam · Dating Scam · Online Romance Fraud

How It 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.

How Scammers Make Contact

Dating appsSocial mediaEmailWhatsApp

Warning Signs & Red Flags

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-World Example

"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

Reverse image search their profile photos
Insist on video calls early in the relationship
Never send money to someone you haven't met in person
Be suspicious of anyone who falls in love before meeting you
Research their claimed profession — military service can be verified
Tell friends and family about online relationships — get outside perspective
Trust 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

Report This Scam

FTC Report Fraud FBI IC3 Identity Theft

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Romance Scam?

What are the warning signs of Romance Scam?

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.

How do I protect myself from Romance Scam?

Reverse image search their profile photos. Insist on video calls early in the relationship. Never send money to someone you haven't met in person. Be suspicious of anyone who falls in love before meeting you.

What should I do if I'm a victim of Romance Scam?

Stop all contact with the scammer immediately. Don't send any more money, no matter what they say. Save all communications and evidence. Report to the dating app or social media platform.

How serious is this threat?

We rate this high risk. Reported losses: $1.1 billion (FTC 2024). Most exposed: Single adults of all ages, especially 50+.

Can I get my money back?

Recovery depends on how you paid. Credit card payments may be reversed through chargebacks, while wire transfers and cryptocurrency are rarely recoverable. Report immediately to your bank and file complaints with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov.

How do I report Romance Scam?

Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. For internet crimes, file with the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov. For identity theft, visit identitytheft.gov. You should also contact your local police and your bank.

Sources & References

Related Scams

Pig Butchering Scam

A patient con. The scammer builds a relationship first — romance, friendship, a "wrong number" that turns into daily contact — then steers you onto a crypto platform that looks real and is not. The name is literal: fatten the target on fake gains, then slaughter. By the time a withdrawal stops going through, the money and the person are both gone. These run for months before the ask.

Military Romance Scam

A romance scam in a uniform: the scammer claims to be a deployed service member, leans on stolen photos and a patriotic backstory, and uses "deployment" to explain why you can never meet or video chat. The military does not need your money to bring someone home on leave.

Sextortion Scam

Someone claims to have intimate images of you and threatens to send them to your contacts unless you pay — often when they have nothing at all. Paying only proves you will pay again. This increasingly targets teenagers, and the move is the same: stop responding, save everything, and report it.

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