Romance Scams

When romance is in the air, scammers may also be. Sadly, holidays—such as Valentine's Day—are the perfect time for romance scammers to strike! You might engage with someone on a dating or social media app and even though you’ve never met in person you feel a real connection to them.

And then they ask you for money.

Maybe they’ll say it’s for a plane ticket to visit you, or a medical emergency, or some other urgent matter. Criminals research your online profiles for details about your life. They’ll use that information to manipulate and pressure you into acting immediately.

Warning signs of a scam:

• They express strong feelings and make you feel special very quickly.
• If you chat on a social media platform or dating site, they’ll try to move the conversation off-site.
• They’ll encourage secrecy and isolate you from friends and family.
• Their online profiles have very little information with no comments, likes, or shares from other people.

What to do if you think you may be the target of a scam:

• Stop communicating immediately.
• Don’t keep your online relationship a secret. Confide in family and friends. They may help you spot the warning signs.
• Be cautious about what you post online.
• Report the scammer to the dating or social media app and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov