Love Scam - What is it and How to Protect Yourself

Red Flags of a Love Scam

If you or someone you know is talking to someone online, look out for these textbook warning signs:

• The "Love Bomb": They declare intense, undying love very quickly, making the victim feel special and swept away before they've even met.
• Moving Off-Platform: They immediately try to move the conversation away from the dating app to a private messaging app like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Viber.
• The Invisible Partner: They make elaborate plans to meet in person, but always cancel at the last minute with a tragic or chaotic excuse (e.g., a car accident, a sudden business crisis).
• The Convenient Job: They often claim to work in positions that keep them traveling or isolated—such as military personnel stationed overseas, doctors working in international war zones, or engineers on oil rigs.
• The Ask: Eventually, they will ask for money. It usually starts small or presents as a life-or-death emergency (e.g., medical bills, travel visas, frozen bank accounts, or "can't-miss" cryptocurrency investment opportunities).

How to Protect Yourself

• Never send money, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or bank details to anyone you have only met online.
• Do a reverse image search of their profile pictures using Google Images or TinEye. Scammers almost always use stolen photos of models, actors, or random internet users.
• Take it slow. Ask specific questions and note if their answers seem vague or contradictory.

• Talk to friends or family. Scammers try to isolate their victims. Showing a trusted friend your conversations can help you get an objective reality check.

If You've Been Scammed

If you realize you are caught in a love scam, stop all contact immediately and block the person. Do not let embarrassment stop you from reporting it. Contact your bank right away to report the fraud, and file an official complaint with your local law enforcement or cybercrime reporting agency (like the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in the US).