Military Romance Scams
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Military romance scams involve fraudsters impersonating service members to exploit victims' trust for financial gain, with overall romance scam losses reaching a staggering $1.3 billion in 2022 alone.
Think you've seen this scam?
Paste any suspicious text, email, or voicemail into our free checker — get a verdict in 5 seconds. Or get our free Scam Defense Playbook.
Free. No credit card. No signup required for the checker.
How It Works
1
A scammer creates a fake profile on a dating app or social media site using stolen photos of a real service member. They often target people who publicly express support for the troops.
2
The scammer builds a relationship with the victim over weeks or months, communicating through text and email. They quickly profess strong feelings of love to create an intense emotional bond.
3
The scammer invents a reason they cannot meet in person, such as being deployed in a remote location with poor communication, which also explains why they cannot video chat.
4
Once trust is established, the scammer begins asking for money for a series of fabricated emergencies. Common requests include money for medical bills, food, travel expenses to come home, or to pay for a "leave request," none of which real service members have to pay for.
5
The requests for money escalate over time. The scammer will continue the scheme for as long as the victim sends money, often disappearing completely once the victim can no longer pay or realizes it's a scam.
Red Flags
- They claim to be a service member but refuse to video chat, often blaming security regulations.
- The relationship moves extremely fast, with declarations of love within days or weeks.
- They ask for money for any reason, especially via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
- Their stories have inconsistencies, or their knowledge of military life seems vague or incorrect.
- They ask you to send mail or packages to an address that is not an official military (APO/FPO) address.
- They claim they need money for medical expenses, transportation, or administrative fees to take leave.
- Their grammar and spelling are poor, despite claiming to be a native English speaker from the U.S.
What to Do If Targeted
- Stop all communication with the person immediately.
- Do not send any more money. If you have sent funds, contact your bank or the payment service immediately to see if the transaction can be reversed.
- Perform a reverse image search on their profile pictures to see if they are associated with other names or have been stolen from a real person's account.
- Talk to a trusted friend or family member about your experience for support.
- Report the fake profile to the dating site or social media platform where the scam began.
- Keep records of all communications and transactions with the scammer as evidence for law enforcement.
How to Report It
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission, the primary agency for collecting scam reports.
- FBI IC3 — Report the crime to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
- IdentityTheft.gov — If you shared personal information like your Social Security number, report it as identity theft.
- FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
- AARP Fraud Helpline — Call 877-908-3360 for free support from trained fraud specialists. Available to anyone, not just AARP members.
Key Statistics
- In 2023, 64,003 romance scams were reported to the FTC, with total reported losses of $1.14 billion. — FTC 2024
- The military community, including veterans and active-duty personnel, reported losing $584 million to scams in 2024. — FTC 2025
- In 2022, nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam to the FTC, with staggering losses of $1.3 billion. — FTC 2023
- The median individual loss in romance scams was $4,400 in 2022. — FTC 2023
- In 2021, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received over 24,000 complaints related to romance scams, with losses exceeding $1 billion. — FBI IC3 2022
Get scam alerts before they hit your parents' inbox
One email per week. The scam that's spreading right now, the red flags, and what to tell Mom and Dad.
Free forever. Unsubscribe in one click.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, real U.S. service members do not have to pay for leave requests, medical care, or food while deployed. Scammers often invent these fees to steal money. Any request for money for these purposes is a definitive sign of a scam.
Scammers impersonate military personnel to create a believable story for why they cannot meet in person. A military identity is often seen as trustworthy and honorable, making it easier for them to manipulate victims' emotions and exploit their patriotism and support for the troops.
It is difficult for civilians to verify if someone is an active service member due to privacy regulations. However, you can ask for their official military email address, which will end in .mil. If they refuse or make excuses, it is a major red flag.
Scammers prefer irreversible and untraceable payment methods. They most often ask for money via wire transfers, gift cards, payment apps, and cryptocurrency. In 2022, cryptocurrency and bank wires accounted for over 60% of reported romance scam losses.
Has this scam reached your family?
Ready to protect yourself?
We've vetted the tools that actually work — VPN, threat protection, and identity monitoring.
See our recommended tools →Get weekly scam alerts
One breakdown per week. Real threats. Zero fluff.
You're in! Check your inbox.