Romance Scams: Warning Signs and Protection
Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2023, with average losses of $15,000 per victim—the highest of any fraud category. Criminals create fake profiles on dating sites and social media, build trust over weeks or months through daily communication, then request money for fabricated emergencies. Common scenarios include medical bills, travel costs to visit, business problems, or legal fees. The FTC reports Facebook, Instagram, and dating apps are the primary platforms.
Warning signs: Quick declarations of love (within days or weeks), avoiding video calls despite expressing strong feelings, claims of working overseas (military, oil rigs, international projects), and eventual money requests for emergencies. AARP research shows women represent 63% of victims, with common platforms being Facebook (24%), Instagram (23%), and dating apps (19%). Scammers often use stolen photos of attractive professionals and communicate with grammatical patterns suggesting non-native English speakers.
Documented case: Federal prosecutors charged a Nigeria-based group (FTC v. Williams, 2023) managing 47 simultaneous victim relationships. Court documents revealed one victim lost $127,000 over eight months before family intervention. The FBI shut down a military impersonation network that stole photos of U.S. Army personnel, defrauding over 200 victims for an average of $8,000 each through fake military paperwork fees.
Protection: Never send money to someone not met in person—no exceptions. Insist on video calls early in relationships. Use reverse image search on profile photos. Share new online relationships with friends and family for outside perspective. Legitimate romantic interests don't request money, especially via wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Report suspected scams to FBI IC3 (ic3.gov) and the dating platform. If victimized, stop all contact immediately and contact your bank.
References
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Federal Trade Commission (FTC). (2024). Romance Scams Data Spotlight. Retrieved from https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/data-visualizations/data-spotlight/2024/02/romance-scams
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FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). (2024). Romance Fraud: 2023 Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.ic3.gov/
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AARP Research. (2023). 2023 Romance Scam Survey Report. Retrieved from https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/romance.html
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Social Catfish. (2024). Online Dating Scam Statistics. Retrieved from https://socialcatfish.com/
Get Help
- FBI IC3 Romance Fraud Reporting: https://www.ic3.gov/complaint
- FTC Report Fraud: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
- AARP Fraud Watch Network: Call 877-908-3360 (toll-free helpline)
- National Center for Victims of Crime: https://victimsofcrime.org/