Romance Scam - Love and Financial Fraud

A romance scam occurs when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim's affection and trust, exploiting the emotional connection to manipulate them into sending money, providing personal information, or committing financial fraud. These scammers often use dating apps, social media, or gaming sites, creating fabricated scenarios to request funds, such as emergencies, travel costs, or medical expenses.

Key Red Flags

Rapid Intimacy ("Love Bombing"): Scammers profess strong feelings quickly and try to move conversations away from dating sites to private channels (text, email).
Refusal to Meet: They often claim to be working or traveling overseas, frequently making excuses to avoid video chats or in-person meetings.
Financial Requests: They will eventually ask for money for a crisis, such as hospital bills, travel, or investment opportunities.
Strange Payment Methods: Requests often involve wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, which are difficult to trace and reverse.
Story Inconsistencies: Their stories may change over time, and they may use scripts or stolen photos.

Protect Yourself

Do Not Send Money: Never send money or give financial details to someone you have only met online, no matter how convincing the story.
Perform a Reverse Image Search: Use tools to check if their profile picture belongs to someone else.
Research the Person: Search for their name, photos, or details online to see if others have reported them.
Go Slow: Ask specific, probing questions to check for consistency in their story.

If you believe you are a victim, stop all communication immediately, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your local law enforcement, and contact your bank to report fraudulent transactions.