Don’t Fall for Romance Scams

Looking for connection online isn’t unusual, and it’s nothing to feel awkward about. Whether it starts on a dating app, social media, or even an online gaming community, meaningful connections can happen anywhere.

Unfortunately, scammers know that, too. And sometimes they take advantage of people simply looking for love. Understanding how these romance scams work, and knowing what warning signs to watch for, can help you protect both your heart and your finances.

What is a Romance Scam?

A romance scam happens when someone pretends to be genuinely interested in a relationship, but their goal is money.

At first, everything may seem perfectly normal. The messages are friendly. The conversations are easy. You might even feel like you’ve really clicked. But scammers like to move fast. They may talk about strong feelings early on or start hinting at a future together before you ever met. Often, there’s a reason you can’t meet in person. They may say they live faraway or are overseas for work. That distance helps keep the story going.

Once trust is built, things often take a turn. A problem suddenly pops up and they need help. You might hear things like:

• “I want to come see you, but I can’t afford the travel right now.”
• “Something unexpected happened and my account is tied up.”
• “A family emergency came up and now I’m short on cash.”

Regardless of the story, the next step is often the same: they ask for money. And usually they want it quickly, through wire transfers, gift cards, or other methods that are hard to reverse.

Once they receive the money, the conversation stops and they’re gone. And so is your cash.

How Can You Spot a Romance Scam?

Romance scams may look different on the surface, but many share the same warning signs. Be cautious if someone:

• Gets very serious and/or “falls in love” very quickly.
• Can’t (or won’t) meet in person or video chat.
• Always has a reason they need financial help.
• Pressures you to act fast or keep things private.
• Asks for money in unusual ways.

If your gut is telling you something isn’t right, trust your instinct.

You don’t need to swear off online connections altogether, just take things slow. Avoid sharing your personal or financial information and never send money to someone you haven’t met face to face.

If you’re unsure, pause and talk it through with someone you trust.

For more information about common scams and how to protect yourself and your finances, visit the Fraud section of our Resource Center.