How to Protect Yourself from Online Dating and Romance Scams

Online dating is hard enough as it is, but things get even more complicated when scammers are added into the mix. A romance scam is when someone fakes a relationship to trick the victim into sending them money.

Unfortunately, romance scams are increasingly common — and costly. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Sentinel Network received 70,120 reports of romance scams in 2025. In total, these so-called “catfishers” stole nearly $1.48 billion, and half of the victims lost more than $2,000.¹

What happens in a romance scam?

Romance scammers may contact you in several ways. Some may send a “wrong number” text or message that seems intended for someone else. If you respond, they may keep the conversation going and slowly try to build a connection.² Another common approach is to reach out online via dating apps or social media. Some romance scammers work alone. Others may work from large call centers targeting many victims at once.³

To get your attention, scammers may claim to share interests that you’ve posted about online in the past. They may also ask lots of questions that seem like casual conversation. For example, a scammer might pose as another parent whose child is about to graduate high school and ask whether you’ve started a college fund.⁴ Such questions might seem innocent at first, but the goal is to build a false sense of connection and gauge how much money you have.

Once the scammer gains your trust, they’ll start asking for money. They might ask for gift cards to pay for “travel expenses” or ask you to invest in fake cryptocurrency schemes. Typically, romance scammers will try to get the money in a way that is difficult to reverse, such as a wire transfer or gift card.

What are the signs of a romance scammer?

Romance scams can target anyone. However, you can protect yourself by remaining diligent and keeping an eye out for warning signs.

• They say they live far away: Often, scammers will use a fake location and say they live far away from you. This helps them maintain anonymity and decreases the likelihood that you’ll ask them to meet in person.
• They break promises to visit or meet: If you do talk about meeting, whether in person or via phone, and the person doesn’t show up, this could be a sign of a scam. They may have used fake photos for their profile to hide their real identity and may not want to be seen in person.
• Their profile seems too good to be true: Do they have movie star looks, a bank account to match and promise that you'll join them in their jet-setting lifestyle? Well, they might not be your dream date looking for love — they might be a romance scammer.
• They move fast: If the person seems eager to move quickly through a relationship, beware, especially if you haven’t met in person yet. Scammers want to lure you into a sense of security, so they might try to convince you that they have strong feelings for you from the start.
• They say they urgently need money: Scammers will often ask for wire transfers or “investments” and say it’s urgent or a “limited-time offer.” If it sounds like a marketing scheme, it probably is. It’s usually best to avoid sending money online to anyone you don’t know very well, especially someone new from a dating site.

Common phrases to watch for

Every dating and romance scam can look a little different, but many follow a similar pattern. Here are some of the most common lies told in scams reported to the FTC:⁵

• I have an emergency: The person may claim that a family member or someone close to them is sick, hurt or in jail and needs urgent help. The goal is to make you feel responsible for solving the problem quickly, usually by sending money.
• I can teach you how to invest: Some romance scammers claim they can help you make money through cryptocurrency or another investment. They may even walk you through how to open an account, move money or use a specific platform, but the investment opportunity isn’t real.
• I’m in the military or working on an oil rig: A scammer may pretend to be deployed or working in a remote place to explain why they can’t meet in person. They might also use their work situation as a reason they need you to send or receive money or packages on their behalf.
• I have money/gold: The person might claim that they have a lot of money or other resources and just need your help to access it — or to borrow funds that they promise to repay later.
• I’m going to marry you: Before ever meeting in person, scammers often make plans to get married, buy your dream house or otherwise commit.
• You can trust me: Scammers may say they love you, talk about a future together or reassure you that they’d never take advantage of you — all while pushing you toward a financial decision you might not otherwise make.

How can I outsmart romance scammers?

There are actions you can take to lower your risk of being targeted in online dating and romance scams.

Know the signs of deepfake AI

Deepfakes are highly realistic AI-generated content. Some scammers use AI tools to create deepfakes to falsify their voice or appearance in photos, over the phone or even on live video calls. While this technology improves every day, there are some details that can tip you off to deepfakes:

• A lack of blinking
• Mouth movements that don't line up with audio
• Unrealistic-looking facial features
• Unusually fast or slow responses
• Shadows that seem out of place, or a lack of shadows where you'd expect to see them

Don't share private details with online contacts

Even if you’re using a “private” chat or sending a direct email, you should always act with caution. Never share financial details, such as your account number, routing number, or online banking logins, especially with someone you've never met in person. Think before you share other sensitive information, like your birthday, address or phone number.

Use reverse image search

If you suspect that a dating profile might be fake, you can use Google's reverse image search tool (click the camera icon to upload an image) to see if the photos were taken from another site. If you find the photos somewhere else online and the details don’t match up, chances are, they’re fake.

Check your privacy settings

Most social media sites and online dating platforms allow you to customize your privacy settings, so take a look and see if there are any security settings to activate. You might want to restrict certain information or reduce visibility to specific locations or “friends of friends.” Romance scammers often make up a fake identity based on information they learn about you online.

Avoid clicking suspicious links

If someone you’ve matched with on a dating app sends you a message with any suspicious links or websites, avoid clicking on them. If you’re unsure, you can always try Googling the name of the site and making sure it’s safe first.

What should I do if I think I’m being scammed?

If you think you may be the victim of a dating or romance scam, there are a few steps you should take:⁷

1. Stop talking to the person right away. If you've already sent or received any money on their behalf, stop.
2. Inform your bank and creditors. Inform your bank and credit card companies and follow any next steps they provide to protect your accounts.
3. File a police report. File a report with your local police department.
4. File a complaint. File a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
5. Report the fraud to the FTC.

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Find real love, not fake schemes

Don’t worry — there are plenty of (non-scammer) fish in the sea! If something feels shady, stop communicating with the person and reach out to someone you trust. And if you’ve fallen victim to a romance scammer in the past, then you certainly aren’t alone.

Your safety is the most important thing, so always exercise caution to protect yourself — protecting your money is just as important as protecting your heart from romance scammers.

This article has been updated from a previous posting on September 2, 2022. Melinda Duffett contributed.

Sources

1 https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/shared/4WS8HTYQ6
2, 3, 4 https://www.freep.com/story/money/personal-finance/susan-tompor/2026/02/12/romance-bbb-scam-tracker-sandra-bullock/88587931007
5 https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/romance-spotlight-2023.pdf
6 https://www.fcc.gov/how-avoid-romance-scams