Romance Scams
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Romance scams are a form of online fraud where criminals adopt fake online identities to gain a victim's affection and trust, ultimately stealing $1.14 billion from victims in 2023 alone.
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How It Works
1
A scammer creates a fake profile on a dating app, social media platform, or messaging app. They use stolen photos and fabricate a compelling identity, often claiming to be successful, working overseas, or in the military to explain their inability to meet in person.
2
The scammer initiates contact and works to quickly build an emotional connection. They shower the victim with attention and affection, often professing love within a short period to gain trust and make the victim feel special.
3
Once trust is established, the scammer invents a crisis or emergency that requires money. Common stories include a medical emergency, a business problem, trouble with travel documents, or a sudden legal fee. They will ask the victim to send money via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
4
The requests for money escalate over time. If the victim sends money once, the scammer will continue to invent new emergencies requiring more financial help, draining the victim's savings and often leaving them in significant debt.
Red Flags
- They profess love very quickly, despite never having met you in person.
- Their online profile seems too perfect, with professional or model-like photos.
- They always have an excuse for why they cannot meet in person or do a video call.
- They quickly try to move the conversation from the dating site or social media app to a private channel like email or a messaging app.
- They ask you for money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, often for a sudden, dramatic emergency.
- They claim to be working overseas, in the military, or on an oil rig, making it difficult to verify their story.
- They ask for your personal information, like your bank account details, for a supposedly legitimate reason.
What to Do If Targeted
- Immediately stop all communication with the person.
- Do not send them any more money or personal information.
- Talk to a trusted friend or family member about what has happened.
- Contact your bank or financial institution immediately if you have sent money or shared financial details.
- Report the scammer's profile to the dating site or social media platform where you met.
- Keep records of all your communications with the scammer, including conversations and transaction details.
How to Report It
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission to help with law enforcement investigations.
- FBI IC3 — Report the internet crime to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
- 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 people filed a report with the FTC about a romance scam, with total reported losses of $1.14 billion. — FTC 2024
- The median loss per person in a romance scam was $2,000 in 2023, the highest of any imposter scam category. — FTC 2024
- Nearly 1 in 10 adults age 50 and older have been targeted by a romance scammer online. — AARP 2026
- In 2023, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received over 880,000 complaints with losses exceeding $12.5 billion, with investment fraud often beginning as a romance scam. — FBI IC3 2023 Internet Crime Report
- More than half (55%) of romance scam incidents where money is lost are never reported to authorities. — AARP 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
In 2023, victims reported losing $1.14 billion to romance scams, with a median loss of $2,000 per person. This makes it one of the most financially devastating forms of imposter scams, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
While anyone can be a target, romance scammers often target older adults. According to AARP, nearly one in ten adults over 50 has been approached by a scammer online. However, people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds fall victim to these scams.
Romance scams most often begin on dating apps (63%), social media platforms like Facebook (42%), and messaging apps (21%). Scammers create fake profiles on these platforms to find and connect with potential victims, according to research from AARP.
Scammers often claim they are working overseas in construction or another profession that makes it hard to meet. They will invent stories about needing money for a medical emergency, unexpected legal fees, or to finally come home to meet the victim, according to the FBI.
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