Romance scams cost millions of dollars every year
Valentine’s Days is around the corner but romance scams take several victims every year, especially with the rise of AI.
Fox – 32 Chicago
- Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating apps and social media to build trust and then steal money.
- Signs of a romance scam include rapid relationship development, isolation from friends and family, and requests for money or personal information.
- To avoid romance scams, be cautious with online relationships, research potential partners, and never send money to someone you haven’t met in person.
- Report romance scams to the FTC, the platform where the scam occurred, and consider contacting AARP’s fraud helpline or the FBI.
The Federal Trade Commission has reported more than 64,000 romance scam cases in the U.S. since 2023.
The FTC, AARP, and even the FBI are urging people to watch for signs of romance scams to avoid having their money stolen and their hearts broken.
Here’s what we know about romance scams and what experts say on keeping yourself safe from one.
What is a romance scam?
- Scammers create fake profiles on dating apps or Facebook in order to strike up a relationship with unsuspecting users.
- A romance scam can start as simply as receiving a text from an unknown number asking if you’d like to hang out or getting a friend request from someone you don’t know on social media.
- Once you accept the invitation and start communicating with this new friend, they may tell you they’re working abroad or are sick and can’t meet you in person.
- Whether it be through friendship or a romantic connection, these scammers will quickly get you to trust them through a facade of true connection.
- Soon, the scammer will begin asking for money or suggest you invest in cryptocurrency with them.
How common are romance scams?
There’s been more than 64,000 romance scams reported to the FTC since 2023.
People ages 40 to 69 are the most likely to report losing money due to a romance scam, and people 70 and older reported the highest individual median losses at $9,475.
What are signs of a romance scam?
- The relationship develops very quickly
- Person seems too perfect
- Person tries to isolate you from family and friends
- Person asks for inappropriate photos or financial information
- Person quickly requests to move communication off the platform it began on
- You never meet in person
- Individual asks for money
On a local level, a scammer may join Facebook groups designed to help Naples and Fort Myers residents make friends. It’s important to know the difference between a real local looking to make new friends and a scammer who is only looking to steal money.
How do you avoid a romance scam?
Not everyone on a dating app or Facebook is a scammer, and real relationships can develop with the right time and care.
Here’s some tips from the FBI and the FTC to keep in mind while using dating apps or social media to connect with new people:
- Use your browser’s image search feature to see if your love interest’s photo is posted somewhere else
- Tell someone you trust about your new connection and see if it raises any red flags
- Search the person’s occupation online plus the word “scammer.” Sometimes, people will post stories of when they were scammed. You can compare your new connection’s story to any posted online to see if they’re similar
- Do not send money to people you’ve only talked to online or through the phone
- Cut off contact immediately if you suspect a scam
How do you report a romance scam?
If you have already sent a romance scammer money through a gift card, wire transfer, credit or debit card, or cryptocurrency, contact the company or your bank immediately. Explain the situation and ask them to refund your money or reverse the charges.
You can report a scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and always make sure to contact the app or website where you met the scammer as well.
AARP also has a fraud helpline that allows you to talk to trained specialists who can help you understand what happened and let you know what steps to take. You can call the fraud helpline at 1-877-908-3360.
You can also report a romance scam to the FBI at ic3.gov.
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