Sugar Daddy and Sugar Mama Scams
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Sugar daddy and sugar mama scams are a type of romance scam where a fraudster, posing as a wealthy benefactor, tricks victims into sending money through fake payment schemes, resulting in significant financial loss; overall romance scams cost victims $1.14 billion in 2023 according to the FTC.
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 contacts a potential victim through social media or a dating app, posing as a wealthy 'sugar daddy' or 'sugar mama' and offering a weekly allowance of hundreds or thousands of dollars in exchange for companionship.
2
To gain trust, the scammer sends the victim money via a fraudulent method, such as a fake check, a reversible mobile payment (like Zelle or Cash App), or by using stolen credit card details for the transfer.
3
Before the victim realizes the initial payment is fraudulent, the scammer invents an urgent reason for the victim to send some of the money back or to a third party. They may ask the victim to pay a 'processing fee,' buy gift cards, or forward money to a supposedly needy friend.
4
The initial fraudulent payment from the scammer eventually bounces or is reversed. The victim is left responsible for the full amount, having already sent their own real money to the scammer, who then disappears.
Red Flags
- You are offered a large weekly allowance or financial help from someone you've only met online.
- The person sends you a check or mobile payment for more than the agreed-upon amount and asks you to send the difference back or to someone else.
- They ask you to pay an upfront fee, processing fee, or 'verification fee' to receive your allowance.
- The relationship moves very quickly from introduction to offers of financial support.
- They refuse to meet in person or have a video call, often using excuses about travel or privacy.
- You are asked for your bank account login information to facilitate a direct deposit.
- They pressure you to act quickly to send a payment, often creating a sense of urgency or emergency.
What to Do If Targeted
- Stop all communication with the scammer immediately.
- Do not send any money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Never give out your bank account details.
- Contact your bank or financial institution immediately if you have sent money or shared account information. They can help block payments and protect your account.
- Take screenshots of your conversations and any payment requests to use as evidence when you file a report.
- Report the scammer's profile to the social media platform or dating app where you met.
- File a report with law enforcement and relevant federal agencies to help them track and stop these criminals.
How to Report It
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission, which collects data to stop scammers.
- FBI IC3 — Report internet crime, including romance scams, to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- BBB — Report the scam to the Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker to warn others.
- 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
- Reported losses to romance scams, which include sugar daddy schemes, totaled $1.14 billion in 2023. — 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
- The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 17,910 romance scam complaints in 2024, with total reported losses over $672 million. — FBI IC3 2026
- One victim reported losing $19,500 after receiving fraudulent checks from a scammer posing as a sugar daddy and sending their own money to contacts provided by the scammer. — BBB 2024
- In 2023, the FBI's IC3 received reports from 6,470 individuals over the age of 60 who experienced over $350 million in losses to confidence and romance scams. — FBI Elder Fraud Report 2024
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
A sugar daddy or sugar mama scam is a romance scam where a con artist poses as a wealthy person offering to pay a victim's bills or a 'weekly allowance.' The scammer sends a fake check or fraudulent digital payment and then tricks the victim into sending real money back for a fee or favor before the initial payment is reversed, causing the victim to lose their own funds.
Sugar daddy scams fall under the category of romance scams. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that victims lost $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2023, with a median loss of $2,000 per person. The Better Business Bureau has received reports of individual victims losing as much as $19,500.
A common tactic is the fake payment scam. The scammer sends a fraudulent check or mobile payment and asks the victim to use a portion of it to buy gift cards, pay a bill for a 'friend,' or send money to another account. When the initial payment bounces days later, the victim is out the money they sent.
No, these scams are prevalent across many platforms. While they do occur on dating apps, scammers frequently contact potential victims through unsolicited messages on social media sites like Instagram and Facebook.
These scams target people of all ages and genders. While some romance scams target older adults, reports show that younger people are also frequently contacted and fall victim to sugar daddy and sugar mama scams.
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.