$1.3B Romance Scams Warning: FBI, FTC Offer Tips To Avoid Being Victim

If you are alone this Valentine's Day and hope to find your significant other, the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have issued warnings about romance scams.

The FTC reports that in 2022, nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam, and reported losses hit $1.3 billion. The median reported loss: $4,400.

According to the FBI, "Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim."

You may meet these con artists on a dating app or a social media site. "The scammer’s intention is to establish a relationship as quickly as possible, endear himself to the victim, and gain trust. Scammers may propose marriage and make plans to meet in person, but that will never happen. Eventually, they will ask for money."

The FBI offers these tips to avoid being taken by a scam:

• Be careful what you post and make public online. Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
• Research the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.
• Go slowly and ask lots of questions.
• Beware if the individual seems too perfect or quickly asks you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.
• Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family or requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.
• Beware if the individual promises to meet in person but then always comes up with an excuse why he or she can’t. If you haven’t met the person after a few months, for whatever reason, you have good reason to be suspicious.
• Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.

The FTC goes further and breaks down reported scams by the most used lines —

The FTC warns that most interactions with scammers started on social media, rather than dating apps. "In fact, 40% of people who said they lost money to a romance scam last year said the contact started on social media; 19% said it started on a website or app. Many people reported that the scammer then quickly moved the sweet talk to WhatsApp, Google Chat, or Telegram."

You can help stop scammers by reporting suspicious profiles or messages to the dating app or social media platforms that you use. Then, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If someone is trying to extort you, report it to the FBI.

Learn more at ftc/romance scams and fbi/romance scams.

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